Fondop is Latics' hero again

Latics striker Mike Fondop scored the only goal of the game again to secure the three points and a third win in a row in a tightly-fought game against promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers at Boundary Park.

His goal was worthy of winning any match as he made it four goals in five matches for him personally and brought his tally for the season so far to five.

It came after just eight minutes when he latched on to an assist from fellow forward James Norwood, chested the ball down and beat Jed Ward in the Forest Green goal with a superbly rifled shot.

Manager Micky Mellon had made two changes to the side who beat Yeovil on Saturday, with Jake Caprice and Oli Hammond dropping to the bench to make way for Callum Dolan and Shaun Hobson.

Latics started brightly and came close after just 30 seconds when Fondop volleyed over a Mark Kitching cross, and a minute before the goal, Dolan shot wide.

Immediately after the opening goal, Forest Green, who started the game joint top in the National League table after winning five of their last six games, nearly levelled the scores.

Defender Teddy Jenks shot beat Latics 'keeper Matt Hudson on 12 minutes but it fortunately bounced off the post to the relief of the 5,034 Boundary Park crowd.

That was the closest the visitors came to equalising and a tremendous display of teamwork from Latics, defending in particular, for the remainder of the game, secured a well fought victory,

“Massive win!” said Micky Mellon after the game.

“It always does feel big winning here at Oldham.

"Coming up against a team like Forest Green and knowing it was going to be a real battle, a tough game and getting the three points is terrific for the players.”

He was full of praise for Fondop’s goal, adding: “It was a great goal to grace any game.

"It was a fantastic strike, good buildup and a goal befitting such a contest between two good teams.

“There was a grittiness, players are determined to get results and that is what we had in abundance tonight, and the supporters were driving them on, we had that.

"The boys coming off the bench did a shift for us as well.”

“I felt relatively comfortable in the end. Midway through the second half we had to change, that then gave us solidity - the players who came on did that and it was an all-round good performance.”

“We will need a squad to enable us to move forward and, when I look around now, we have guys that you can rely on and get us good results."

The result means that Latics remain in the play-off places having lost only once in their first 11 games.

On Saturday Latics are on their travels when they visit Ebbsfleet in a televised match, with a 5.30pm kick off.

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