Shrewsbury Town 1 Oldham 0 - Report and pictures

Town’s winger pounced after just 16 minutes to notch the winner and help his side to a total haul of 10 points from 12 available in the busy festive schedule.

Oldham offered little in response but had their moments in the second period as the hosts defended their one-goal lead.

But they remained watertight and secured an 11th clean sheet from 25 league games this season.

Town stay second in the third tier ahead of cup dates with West Ham and Blackpool, now with a five-point cushion on their challengers for automatic promotion.

Hurst and Town were aiming to extend their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions.

The Meadow boss was keen to get 2018 off to a positive start after falling to a defeat in their first game last year - a limp 1-0 reversal at home to Fleetwood.

Shrewsbury then went on to win 23 of 46 league games in the calendar year as survival was secured and Town then embarked on a miraculous charge to the top of League One.

The struggling visitors, managed by former Town midfielder Richie Wellens, were without a win in four. The hosts were chasing a fourth straight win against the Latics.

Hurst was likely to rest players in the final of a punishing four games in 10 days schedule, and winger Arthur Gnahoua was handed a surprise start.

The Frenchman had only previously started once in the league, at Plymouth in October. It was his full home league debut.

Also included were Stefan Payne for Carlton Morris and Bryn Morris for Ben Godfrey. Oldham were without 11-goal top scorer Eoin Doyle who was ill.

The recalled Payne, who had not started in four games, showed sharp flashes in the opening moments and testing Haiti international goalkeeper Johnny Placide with a stinging effort from distance.

The form table suggested Town were the more confident side and the early exchanges certainly mirrored that. Though Oldham, with Wigan loanee Jack Byrne pulling the strings for them in midfield, did show signs of having a go.

Byrne stung the palms of Henderson before Telford-born Craig Davies sent a weak shot at the goalkeeper.

But it took just 16 minutes for in-form Shrews to crack the Latics backline. The impressive Omar Beckles and Gnahoua combined down the left and the winger cut inside the box on to his weaker right foot and hammered a strike goalwards.

The effort was too hot for Placide to handle and Whalley stole in to help himself to a ninth goal of the campaign.

Oldham were rattled and were lucky to survive another dangerous Whalley set-piece, as Gnahoua and Payne looked dangerous going forward.

The hosts played some eye-catching approach-play and sensed blood against an off-colour Oldham showing little in attack. Payne passed up a glorious opening for two after half hour after he sent a header from Whalley’s cross straight at Placide following yet more fine Gnahoua work.

The first period petered out and, with just a one-goal lead, Oldham were always likely ro pose some sort of threat. Barely 90 seconds into the second period ex-Town man Anthony Gerrard helped a Byrne free-kick goalwards and Henderson did well to smother it in a packed penalty box.

Placide was caught in no man’s land from a Whalley corner and Toto Nsiala stole a yard on his marker but could only help narrowly over the top.

Town were slack at times when attempting to turn defence into attack. Payne originally did well to rob Gerrard but his pass back to Jon Nolan was poor and a chance went wasted.

Hurst looked to inject some extra energy into his midfield ranks and sent Ben Godfrey, hero from Saturday’s win at Southend, on for Bryn Morris.

Nolan was a diving header away from connecting to an inviting James Bolton cross. Before heavy boos descended on the Meadow for the Latics sub Aaron Holloway and ref Tom Nield. A Town attack was halted for Holloway’s head injury, but the Oldham man immediately got to his feet.

The anger transformed into nerves as Cameron Dummigan first shot over before Henderson was at his best to get down to his right corner and deny Byrne’s fine low effort.

All eyes were on Mr Tom Nield as Nsiala and Davies tangled while battling for Byrne’s long pass. The Oldham forward dropped down in the box leaving Wellens hopping mad for a penalty - Mr Nield was quick to wave away.

For the most Shrewsbury defended well and limited Oldham to no further clear-cut chances. Yet another clean sheet was secured by Town’s watertight backline, meaning one goal was enough for Hurst’s man to start the year on a winning note and head into a cup break on the back of fine festive league form.

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

Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Beckles; B Morris (Godfrey, 67); Whalley, Ogogo ©, Nolan, Gnahoua (John-Lewis, 76); Payne (C Morris, 84)

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Riley, Adams, Rodman.

Oldham Athletic (4-2-3-1):

Placide; Dummigan, Gerrard, Bryan, Hunt; Fane (Green, 84), Gardner; Flynn (Holloway, 61), Byrne, Obadeyi (Menig, 76); Davies

Subs not used: Ben Wilson (gk), Brian Wilson, Nemonuceno, Maouche.

Referee: Tom Nield

Attendance: 6,383 (503 Oldham fans)