Shropshire Star

Oldham 1 Shrewsbury Town 2 - Report and pictures

Jon Nolan’s second goal in two games sent unbeaten Shrewsbury Town five points clear at the top of League One, writes Lewis Cox at Boundary Park.

Published

His second-half strike came against the run of play as the hosts created chance after chance after pegging Paul Hurst’s men back in the first-half.

Town deservedly led through Stefan Payne, who they lost to injury as the striker bravely converted a loose ball, but the hosts drew level courtesy of ex-trainee Craig Davies’ header.

Oldham, who had forward Eoin Doyle sent off for a second yellow in added time, were in the ascendency but Town punished them when it counted in front of their delirious away following.

Shrewsbury secured their seventh win from eight as a remarkable season continued to make fans dream.

Analysis:

Hurst’s only real concern going into the clash was the fitness of forward Stefan Payne. The ex-Barnsley man hobbled off against Wigan but returned to training on Thursday and was passed fit to stay in the starting XI.

Town were unchanged, including Joe Riley’s return from a long-term injury at right-back, which is proving timely with James Bolton (knee) absent.

Improving Oldham, who have recovered from five straight league defeats, also went with the same XI after an eye-catching midweek win at Bristol Rovers.

The Latics enjoyed a tidy opening couple of minutes but once the visitors got into their flow they began to dictate proceedings.

Jon Nolan was again at the heart of the fluid football on display from Hurst’s men. The midfield man passed up a couple of shooting opportunities inside 10 minutes as the hosts managed to clear.

Town were stringing a dozen and more passes together and while the goalscoring chances were at a premium, Shrewsbury were looking on their game.

The first opportunity of note came the way of skipper Abu Ogogo, not for the first time Payne’s fine backheel sent a team-mate scampering away but Ogogo was unable to convert from a difficult angle on his left side.

But by the 20th minute the away fans were delirious with celebration as their side deservedly led.

The joy turned into brief concern as scorer Payne lay motionless inside the six yard box in front of the away fans.

A fine move involving Alex Rodman and Nolan allowed Joe Riley to whip in a first-time cross that was spilled by goalkeeper Jack Ruddy.

A loose ball was lunged at by Payne and an Oldham defender, with the ball flying into the goal. Payne got enough on it to score but took a clatter to the face and was withdrawn for Carlton Morris.

It was the second time in two games that the front man was forced off before the break, again after looking so impressive.

Town struggled to recreate the momentum they had before the goal after the change of personnel and the hosts managed to grab an unlikely foothold.

Shaun Whalley was buzzing around and his square ball was cut out when shooting was an option, before Mat Sadler got Junior Brown out of jail with superb cover work.

The hosts sniffed a way back into it after Preston loanee Eoin Doyle spun the Town defence and sent a finish agonizingly wide of the far post.

Moments later, with 10 minutes until the break, they were back in it. Gevaro Nepomuceno was afforded far too much space on the left flank and his measured cross was perfect for ex-Shrewsbury trainee Davies who thundered in a close-range header.

The hosts were enjoying their spell in the ascendency. Referee Ben Toner was also under the spotlight as he waved away Ogogo hitting the deck - which home skipper Peter Clarke didn’t take well to - before Doyle was booked for going down under pressure from Brown.

Much of Oldham’s pressure was coming down their right as Town, with Ryan McLaughlin often in acres of space.

Latics chief John Sheridan was left begging for consistency.

Nolan dragged wide from distance for Town before scorer Davies blasted a speculative volley over for the home side.

Town faced a different proposition for the second period after being pegged back by their hosts.

But it could have - and should have - been far worse shortly after the restart as Doyle somehow found post after rounding Henderson. The striker really should have scored from six yards with an empty goal gaping.

Town couldn’t get going and looked hesitant all over the park. Oldham profited from set-pieces as Clarke had two bites at the cherry.

It took an hour for the visitors to cause worry to Oldham’s backline. A couple of corners ended with Whalley drilling a fierce strike across goal and well wide.

But it sparked a little life into Hurst’s men and on 65 minutes the away end was in dreamland again.

Rodman rode his luck by coming out on top of a bobbling ball before breaking in the left side of the box. The winger checked and played a smart cut-back to Nolan, who was able to deftly glide beyond his marker and slot into the far corner.

It was his second goal in two games and huge respite for the Town backline, who were under a bombardment.

Oldham continued their pressure. Needless free-kicks were proving a challenge for Town and the latest, a fine delivery by Jack Byrne, was somehow headed over by Davies, who should have equalised.

Their chances kept coming as Byrne’s free-kick was scooped aside by Henderson before ex-Shrews man Anthony Gerrard headed wide.

Nolan was in the mood and blazed a half-volley high and wide with his left-foot.

The Latics kept coming but were lacking the cutting edge from their numerous chances created. Town took their moments when they arrived and were left with the spoils as their miraculous season continues.

Key moments:

7 - Jon Nolan profits from an air-kick, beats three men but sees his left-footed shot blocked.

19 - Real opening for Abu Ogogo but it’s at a tight angle on the left side after Stefan Payne’s back-heel puts him away. The skipper shoots wide.

20 - TOWN GOAL! Alex Rodman passes it to Nolan who flicks out wide right for Joe Riley. The right-back flashes a cross in, which is spilled by Jack Ruddy in Oldham’s goal, and pounced upon by Payne to finish.

The forward is clattered by an Oldham defender and goes off early for the second time in a week with a facial injury.

29 - Opportunity for Shaun Whalley after skinning his man in the box, the winger has his square ball cut out.

34 - Big Latics chance. Eoin Doyle bursts beyond his defender and sends a low finish just wide of the far post.

35 - Goal Oldham. Craig Davies thunders a close-range header beyond Dean Henderson from Gevaro Nepomuceno’s cross.

41 - Doyle wants a penalty after going down under pressure from Brown but is instead booked for simulation by Ben Toner.

43 - Davies belts one over from distance for Oldham.

45+1 - Peter Clarke heads wide from a right-sided Latics cross.

47 - Doyle somehow finds the post after rounding Henderson.

55 - Clarke has a couple of goes from two corners. The first comes at him a little quickly before the second lands on the roof the net.

60 - Brown almost connects to Whalley’s free-kick after throwing himself at it but the ball flies wide.

65 - GOAL TOWN! Nolan gets his second in two games as he latches on to Rodman’s cut-back, beating his man and finding the corner expertly.

72 - Oldham should score as Davies connects with Jack Byrne’s free-kick but can only flick his header over.

78 - Henderson saves from Byrne’s free-kick before Anthony Gerrard heads just wide.

85 - Latics sub Ousmane Fane shoots wide from outside the area.

87 - Whalley collects a half-cleared Joe Riley cross and his left-footed effort deflects very narrowly wide.

90+3 - Doyle is sent off for a second yellow after sliding in on Whalley.

90+4 - Carlton Morris is unable to seal it with a couple of late moments as Town broke away from Oldham pressure.

Teams:

Oldham Athletic (3-5-2):

Ruddy; McLaughlin, Clarke ©, Gerrard, Edmundson (Menig, 77); Bryan (Obadeyi, 85), Gardner (Fane, 75), Byrne, Nepomuceno; Doyle, Davies

Subs not used: Placide (gk), Dummigan, Wilson, Amadi-Holloway

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Riley, Nsiala, Sadler, Brown; Godfrey; Whalley, Ogogo ©, Nolan; Rodman (Adams, 93); Payne (C Morris, 22)

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Beckles, Dodds, Gnahoua, John-Lewis.

Attendance: 4,150

Referee: Ben Toner

Man of the match - Jon Nolan

Position in the table - 1st (22 points from eight games)