Boro lose at Boundary Park thanks to James Wesolowski’s header
Stevenage were unable to build on a good week as their winless run in the league extended to seven games with this defeat.
After their win at Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup last weekend and getting Everton in the next round, in addition to both Francois Zoko and Michael Doughty extending their loan deals with the club, Boro conceded a first-half header here and were unable to work their way back into the match.
Stevenage made one change to their starting XI with Sam Wedgbury coming into the side in place of Michael Doughty, while on the bench was Adam Smith, a goalkeeper signed on a one-month youth loan deal from Leicester City this week.
Oldham began the game with a couple of corners, but it was Boro who went closest early doors.
Filipe Morais took a corner on the right that had been won by Marcus Haber, and his ball into the area saw two Boro players rise together with Luke Jones heading on to the corner of the post and crossbar from 12 yards.
Just moments later, however, and the hosts were ahead, with Boro conceding from a cross from the right.
It was Genseric Kusunga with the ball in, and it was a neat header into the corner of the goal from James Wesolowski.
Boro thought they had pulled a goal back on 16 minutes, but Mark Oxley came to Oldham’s rescue when Morais’ cross from the right bent towards goal and the Latics keeper got down low to stop it from crossing the line.
Morais and Zoko thought the ball had crept over the line, but the linesman saw it differently.
Oldham had one further chance in the half, which saw Jonson Clarke-Harris slice a shot wide from 16 yards out, but although Boro perhaps edged the remainder of the first period the half finished with the home side ahead.
Wedgbury made way at the break for Doughty, but it was the home side who started the better of the two sides and when Clarke-Harris was put in on the right he blazed wide when he should have hit the target.
Stevenage then had a double chance, but Parrett’s low drive was saved by Oxley before Haber, on the turn, clipped his shot off target from close range.
Next for Oldham Gary Harkins made a run at goal before setting up Danny Philliskirk, but the Latics forward went down under a challenge – expecting a penalty, he was given nothing and Boro were able to clear.
Haber made way for Darius Charles on the hour mark as Boro looked to get back on level terms, but the next chance went the way of Oldham when Wesolowski hit a superb shot from distance into a crowded area only for the ball to hit a player and bounce clear.
Boro were reduced to 10 men with just over five minutes remaining when Ben Chorley became involved in an incident with Clarke-Harris off the ball and after the referee had spoken with his linesman he produced a red card and send the centre-back off.
Oldham made an immediate double change with Michael Petrasso and Clarke-Harris making way for Charlie MacDonald and Adam Rooney while Philliskirk then had a great chance to put them 2-0 only to spoon his shot over the bar.
The Latics, though, didn’t need a second goal as moments later the full-time whistle went and Boro were consigned to a seventh straight league game without a win.
Oldham: Oxley, Grounds, Wesolowski, Kusunga, Tarkowski, K Smith, Mellor, Clarke-Harris (Rooney), Petrasso (MacDonald), Philliskirk, Harkins (Dayton 74). Subs: Brown, Lockwood, Rachubka.
Stevenage: Day, Jones (Andrade 80), Hartley, Ashton, Chorley, Morais, Freeman, Parrett, Wedgbury (Doughty 46), Haber 6 (Charles 60), Zoko. Subs: A Smith, J Smith, Burrow, Tounkara.
Ref: S Rushton
Att: 3460 (90)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here