Coca Cola League 1

COUNTY were barely recognisable as they secured a memorable, morale-boosting derby win on Saturday.

Goals from new boy Kevan Hurst and the irrepressible Warren Feeney handed the Hatters another glimmer of hope in their continuing battle to avoid the dreaded drop.

Chris Turner again plumped for wholesale changes to his starting line-up, with Hurst and Harpal Singh coming in for their debuts, but it was the home side who threatened first when Kiwi striker Chris Killen curled a sweet shot just past James Spencer's far post.

On 10 minutes the Hatters created their first half-chance, but following good work from Singh down the left, Hurst couldn't quite direct his shot on the turn from 10 yards.

Kevin Betsy ought to have put Oldham in front on 17 minutes, but after being teed up expertly by Mark Hughes, the big striker took too long and eventually fired his shot straight at Spencer. Hughes had another chance from the rebound, but again Spencer made a decent save.

The returning Keith Briggs blasted an angled half-volley wide, while at the other end Hurst came to County's rescue when he hacked Will Haining's downward header off the line.

Briggs again fired a powerful shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box, but again at the other end Spencer got down well to beat out Hughes's close-range effort.

The livewire Singh was popping up time and time again down the left, and on 37 minutes his hard work reaped some reward. His cross to the near post was spilled by Oldham goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi, and in nipped Hurst who stroked home a delightful debut goal.

Oldham roared back and Spencer thwarted Betsy from just 10 yards, but it was the revitalised Hatters who ended the first 45 minutes on top.

Betsy came close to levelling five minutes after the restart when he headed a whisker over, then just before the hour mark Oldham's veteran winger David Eyres swung a curling free-kick just past the angle of post and crossbar.

Bang on the hour County superbly doubled their advantage though. A crisp move down the Oldham right culminated with Hurst whipping in a peach of a cross to the near post and there was the diving Feeney who thumped home a lovely header - his 11th goal of the season.

The Hatters were now in the groove and Singh was only denied by a close-range stop from Pogliacomi.

Eyeing their first win since New Year's Day, County now looked hungry for even more, but it was Oldham who next registered on the scoresheet when Eyres crossed for Scott Vernon who reduced the arrears on 70 minutes.

Surely County couldn't let a two-goal lead slip after being in command for such long periods? It didn't appear so as the visitors were next to threaten as Feeney glanced a header towards goal on 82 minutes but Pogliacomi saved.

Oldham skipper Dean Holden headed straight at Spencer from just eight yards, but County managed to hang on for a very welcome three points.

• COUNTY: Spencer, Goodwin, Hardiker, Dolan, Hurst, Briggs, Raynes, Robertson, Singh, Armstrong (Le Fondre, 83), Feeney.
  Subs not used: Cutler, Bridge-Wilkinson, Jackman, Williams A. Star Man: Harpal Singh.

• OLDHAM ATHLETIC: Pogliacomi, Holden, Griffin, Haining, Killen (Cooper, 65), Vernon (Stam, 89), Branston, Betsy (Bruce, 77), Hughes, Kilkenny, Eyres. Subs not used: Bonner, Mildenhall. Booked: Kilkenny.

Attendance: 5,924.

Referee: Mark Cowburn (Blackpool).

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