Fondop bags winner for in-form Latics

A first-half Mike Fondop header was enough to secure a Latics victory against Dagenham & Redbridge, with Micky Mellon's side having now pocketed seven points from three matches in a week.

The striker’s winning goal came after 21 minutes.

A quickly-taken corner saw Josh Lundstram cross from the left.

Mark Kitching headed it back and Fondop reacted first to head home past keeper Elliot Justham.

That was to be the only goal in a keenly fought battle in which, despite not being an ill-tempered encounter, each side had a player sent off.

Latics started the game attacking the Chadderton Road End and Fondop twice came close in the early minutes, first a shot which Justham saved and then he headed Reagan Ogle’s cross wide.

At the other end Umerah and Hill both had goal efforts missing the target.

After Latics took the lead, they came close to a second a couple of minutes later when Kane Drummond’s effort was deflected and bounced off the bar.

The early part of the second half was scrappy in places as both sides showed clear signs of fatigue following the heavy National League fixture schedule.

In the 50th minute, player of the match Fondop again troubled the Dagenham goal heading just wide, while at the other end the visitors' leading scorer Dion Pereira produced a save from Matt Hudson.

Lundstram was substituted in midfield by Josh Kay on 53 minutes as boss Mellon sought to freshen up the Oldham team, and 20 minutes later Jes Ochuegbulam, Otis Khan and Dan Gardiner replaced Drummond, Tom Conlan and Jake Caprice.

In the 75th minute the away side were reduced to 10 men when referee James Westgate ruled that Jake Hessenthaler’s tackle on substitute Kay was reckless.

As the game wore on, the game became more laboured as each side visibly tired, but the crowd of 5,651 grew increasingly nervous as Dagenham looked for an equaliser, although Uchegbulam produced a fine save from Justham late on.

In the last minute of normal time Kay was himself punished by referee Westgate when he was booked for a foul on substitute Woodhouse.

It proved to be significant five minutes later when he was adjudged to have kicked the ball away, received a second booking and was duly sent off, as Latics saw the game out for a valuable win, a result which sees them in fifth place in the table, three points ahead of neighbours Rochdale.

Manager Mellon was happy with the three points after the game.

He said: “When I came here today, I thought, we have played three games in seven days, we have had two monster journeys (to Sutton and Maidenhead), just win, get us over the line and just move on."

He was full of praise for the players, adding: “Incredible! They have fought and scrapped and got us seven points out of nine – with two away games. It has been a good week.

“They are down on their feet in the dressing room - they are tired."

He was quick to praise Fondop, who now has 14 goal involvements for the season.

“Brilliant! He is a big player for us and he has popped up today with a really invaluable goal,” added the gaffer.

Next Saturday Latics are in FA Cup action when they travel to League Two side Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup first round.

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