Excellent win at Stoke

Lee Duxbury's 15th minute strike was enough to give the Latics all three points with a 1-0 win at Stoke this afternoon at the Britannia. The Latics continued their improved form to move away from the relegation places into 19th in the table, while a second home defeat of the season for Stoke brings an end to their eight match unbeaten run at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke welcomed back Mikael Hansson after he'd been sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.
Oldham had Shaun Garnett back after his one match ban, while Craig Dudley won the vote to partner Carlo Corazzin in the Latics' attack.  It was the visitors who stunned the home crowd by taking the lead after fifteen minutes, with Lee Duxbury scoring his fourth goal of the season. The ball was squared to Duxbury by Eyres on the edge of the Stoke box, and the Latics player then squeezed his effort under Carl Muggleton. Stoke failed to create many chances in the remainder of the first-half as the Latics defended their lead all too comfortably, and could have had a penalty four minutes before the break when Craig Dudley appeared to be fouled by Tony Dorigo, only for the referee to wave away their claims to a spot-kick.  Stoke came closest to an equaliser just before the hour mark when Gudjonsson's neat chip beat Kelly, only to hit the bar.  That was as close as the home side came to getting back in the game as the home crowd witnessed a very disappointing performance from their side which has seen Stoke slip to ninth in the second division table.  For the Latics, they can take great credit from this display as they finally seem to have turned the corner.

Oldham put an end to Stoke's run of eight unbeaten home games to earn their second away win of the season thanks to a first half strike from skipper Lee Duxbury. After looking shakey in the opening minutes, Athletic took the game to the home side with a spirited fighting display continuously frustrating Stoke. The visitors were on the back foot almost from the off as Stoke poured forward in search of an early goal against the second division strugglers. And they could well have found themselves a goal down after seven minutes when Shaun Garnett handled just outside the penalty area. Graham Kavanagh lined up the ball before crashing a fierce free-kick through the wall but Gary Kelly in the Oldham goal reacted instantly, going down to his left to block.

The visitors then stunned Stoke when they took a 15th minute lead when Duxbury fired home from the edge of the box in front of delighted travelling supporters. Craig Dudley put in a cross from Stoke's right hand side which Carlo Corazzin nodded down and Duxbury fired past Carl Muggleton with apparent ease. The goal clearly lifted Andy Ritchie's men who started to grow in confidence as they realised they had nothing to fear. And in the 42nd minute they had what they believed to be a legitimate penalty appeal turned down when Dudley went down in the box. The Oldham striker was homing in on goal when he was caught up by Brynjar Gunnarsson who appeared to bundle him off the ball as he was about to shoot. Kavanagh almost let the visitors in for a second goal five minutes into the second half when his poor clearance fell to Duxbury but the Oldham skipper shot well wide.

Stoke missed a golden opportunity to level following a moment of confusion in the Oldham defence when the ball ran loose to Gunnarsson. The manager's son chipped the ball against the crossbar when he really ought to have scored But still the visitors continued to force the home side back, though in the main, Stoke restricted them to long distance efforts. Ex Preston winger David Eyres hit a 30-yard shot which had Muggleton scurrying across his line but to the keeper's relief the shot flew narrowly wide. After being inactive for most of the second half, Kelly finally had a save to make when he got down to stop Peter Thorne's diving header in the 87th minute. But despite a late Stoke rally, Oldham managed to hold on to three well earned points to add to their recent improved haul.

Sporting Life Saturday Review

Wigan stormed to the top of the Second Division table after extending their unbeaten run to 14 games with a 2-1 home win over Cambridge, who are now without a victory in seven matches. But the Latics struggled after Neil Mustoe gave United the lead with a 40th-minute penalty. Neil Roberts finally equalised 15 minutes from time and an own goal from Paul Wanless four minutes before the end secured the points for Wigan.

Bristol Rovers are still without a home win but did enough to hold deposed leaders Walsall to a 0-0 draw.

Reading lost their unbeaten home record when Gavin Johnson gave Colchester a 1-0 win with a 38th-minute strike.

Rotherham extended their unbeaten run to seven games when they ended Brentford's eight-match run unbeaten at Griffin Park. Stewart Talbot's double sandwiched Alan Lee's goal in a 3-0 win.

Paul Moody's 56th-minute goal was enough to give Millwall a 1-0 home win over Wrexham.

Danny Wilson's Bristol City are unbeaten in 12 games after a 3-0 win at Luton, the goals all coming in the second half from Scott Murray, Lea Peacock and Micky Bell.

Stoke are nine games without a clean sheet after going down 1-0 at home to Oldham, Lee Duxbury scoring the winner after 15 minutes.

Bournemouth climbed out of the bottom four with a shock 3-0 win at Northampton, Jermaine Defoe netting twice after Steve Fletcher had opened the scoring.

Oxford won for the first time in 10 games with a 2-1 success at Swansea, who had Matthew Bounds sent off for violent conduct in the 68th minute.

Steve Watkin put the Swans in front but United hit back through Joey Beauchamp and Keith Andrews.

Swindon's mini-revival ended when they crashed 4-0 at Peterborough, with Leon McKenzie's two goals supplemented by David Farrell and Richard Forsyth.

Bury, once among the leaders, are now without a win in seven games after two goals from Jamie Bates, the second a minute from time, gave Wycombe a 2-1 win at Adams Park. Paul Reid replied with a penalty.