Coca-Cola League One

SODéS Law reared its ugly head at the Recreation Ground as Latics celebrated John Sheridanés manager-of-the-month gong in the way most teams do é meekly surrendering to defeat.

Sheridan had previously rejected any notion of a écurseé by saying teams who lose do so because they were not good enough on the day.

It seemed as if his side were hell bent on proving that theory to be true after a dismal display in Derbyshire, briefly lit up by Neal Eardleyés first senior goal.

With the club arriving on the back of a six-game winning streak in all competitions, hopes were raised that it could be a seventh with news that the Spireitesé leading scorer, Caleb Folan, was out through injury.

Those hopes took all of 33 minutes to disappear once his replacement, Colin Larkin, fired in a first-half brace with Athletic all over the place at the back.

The defence had been the bedrock of Laticsé surge into the top four, but Larkin, Paul Hall and Kevan Hurst were able to make hay for the home side.

Although Eardley may remember the day for his maiden goal, he will not look back on the rest of it with fondness as Hurst gave him the runaround and sent over a number of crosses that had the defenders backpedalling.

Gary McDonald had already turned a Larkin cross against his own post by the time the hosts took a 14th minute lead.

Paul Shaw found Hurst on the left and his teasing cross was headed home at the far post by Larkin with the Oldham defenders nowhere to be seen.

The former Mansfield striker doubled his tally 19 minutes later, collecting Shawés through ball before confidently beating Les Pogliacomi.

With Athletic requiring a pick-me-up before the break, Eardley delivered the goods with seconds remaining, blasting a home a free-kick from 20 yards.

Top scorer Chris Porter had departed at half-time with a knock to the knee, but replacement Chris Hall was unable to spark any life into Athleticés play going forward.

Although their second-half display was a marginal improvement, Latics were still having problems at the back with Pogliacomi thwarting Shaw and Larkin, while a last-ditch block from Sean Gregan denied the former.

There was still time for Richie Wellens and Simon Charlton to pick up petulant cautions as Athletic were unable to snatch an equaliser, the former for hacking down Mark Allott and the latter for dissent.

For those who believe in omens though, the last Oldham defeat é at Yeovil Town é then heralded five consecutive league victories.

If history repeats itself, it could be a very happy Christmas...

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