Late Whitehall strike sinks Latics

Latics lost 1-0 at Eastleigh yesterday

A late goal from Danny Whitehall condemned Latics to a 1-0 defeat in their first-ever competitive game at Eastleigh.

Whitehall netted with just 18 minutes to go as Eastleigh got their National League play-off bid back on track at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Spitfires saw their seven-game unbeaten run come to an end at lowly Yeovil on Tuesday, but moved into fifth place following a seventh win in nine.

Two of the form teams in the fifth tier could not be separated for over an hour.

The closest either side came to taking the lead arrived nine minutes before the break when Latics midfielder John Rooney fired in a shot which produced a fine save from Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.

Mike Fondop then diverted a Rooney free-kick wide as David Unsworth's men threatened at the start of the second half before Whitehall, who grabbed both Eastleigh goals in the 3-2 loss in the reverse fixture in September, let fly from 25 yards in the 72nd minute for his 13th goal of the season.

Jake Scrimshaw missed a great chance to add a second in stoppage time when through one on one, but Latics 'keeper Magnus Norman saved well.

Boss Unsworth said after the game: "It's a hard one to take.

"I'm gutted for the players and I'm gutted for the fans."

Latics, who remain in 14th place in the National League table, are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Dagenham & Redbridge.

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