Surridge and Baxter help Latics sail away from Grimsby with win

Jose Baxter celebrates a goal during his first spell with Athletic

Oldham Athletic headed into the trip to the seaside knowing that this game against Grimsby Town would be a major test of the metal after suffering a first defeat in half a dozen league games last time out at home to Newport County.

In the end manager Frankie Bunn didn’t need to be concerned as his side eased past their opponents thanks to a double from Sam Surridge and Jose Baxter grabbing his first league goal for more than two years, in a comfortable 3-0 win.

After a goalless first 45 minutes of little chances by both sides, it was Grimsby Town who made the first meaningful impression on things, Elliot Embleton going close to scoring his first senior goal, but it was at the other end where all the damage would be done.

Just three minutes after the hour mark Sam Surridge spotted a gap in the Mariners defence and made them pay not once but twice within two minutes to give Oldham Athletic a commanding lead with more than half an hour still the play.

Grimsby were unable to recover from such a shock, leaving only Jose Baxter to net his first league goal since his time at Sheffield United putting the icing on the cake.

The three points moves Latics into the playoff places in League Two, just five points off the top spot with a visit from Colchester United next on the fixture list on Saturday.