Latics see off Eastleigh to secure first home win of the year

Latics boss Micky Mellon stated that it will now be a battle in every game following an impressive 2-0 win over Eastleigh at Boundary Park in front of a crowd of 4,769.

It was a result which saw Latics earn their first home win of 2025 and end a seven-match winless run.

It keeps them well positioned in the play-off places - fourth in the National League table with nine matches remaining.

Mellon made four changes from the 1-1 draw at Tamworth on Saturday.

In came Tom Conlon, Billy Waters, Jake Caprice and Jake Leake with Shaun Hobson, Joe Pritchard, Jes Uchegbulam and Vimal Yoganathan dropping to the bench.

The first action of the game saw Eastleigh coming close after five minutes when Tyrese Shade fired just over, but three minutes later Latics were ahead.

Tom Pett’s corner was met well by the head of Billy Waters, the ball taking a deflection before finding the net.

After 17 minutes Latics came close to adding a second when Mike Fondop was put through and his gentle lob over keeper Joe McDonnell looked to be heading goalwards, only to come back off the bar.

Waters responded quickly but somehow his shot was cleared off the line by Ludwig Francilette.

There was a blow to Latics later in the first half when after lengthy treatment for a leg injury Pett was substituted by Pritchard, as they went in 1-0 ahead at the break.

In the second half the visitors looked livelier with Close’s shot saved by Tom Donaghy, while Pritchard had a couple of efforts stopped.

In the 55th minute, Kian Harrett, who had only just signed in time to be able to be named in the match day squad came on as substitute for Billy Waters to make his debut for Latics.

Latics needed a second goal to settle nerves and it came on 73 minutes.

A great move on the left ended with Pritchard slipping the ball through to Jake Caprice who calmly fired a low angled shot past McDonnell for his first goal for the club.

Latics remained in control and saw the game through for a vital win.

The only real remaining action came in stoppage time when Eastleigh substitute Nathan Tshikuna, who ironically was signed from Tamworth and had already played Latics in their previous game, was sent off for a foul on Pritchard.

Mellon said: “It was patchy, but football that was needed to win the game for Oldham and the situation we are in to try and get results.

"The lads were excellent, competed really well, ran really hard.

“We are still trying to save legs and keep people available - we have had it all on since January, with losing 8 or 9 players - just trying to manage it across the whole group.”

Latics are in action on Saturday when they host local rivals Rochdale with a 12.30pm kick off.

The game will have an added edge as both sit in play-off positions and the visitors have won their last four games.

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