Micky Mellon’s debut as Latics’ manager was a thrilling one, where more than 3,000 travelling fans witnessed a seven-goal spectacle at Rochdale. This local derby had it all – the fiery competition, a new manager’s first appearance, an enthralled crowd on the edge of their seats, and, of course, seven remarkable goals.
In a crucial victory, Latics triumphed 4-3, extending their unbeaten streak to eight matches and securing the 10th spot in the National League table, a mere two points away from playoff contention. Mellon was left with plenty to contemplate, both positive and negative, as he prepares for Tuesday’s match against Fylde.
In his inaugural game, Mellon made just one change to the side that defeated Altrincham 1-0 in the previous week’s FA Cup qualifier, with Hallam Hope replacing the injured Brennan Dickenson.
A total of 6,722 fans attended the game, with Latics’ supporters dominating the Crown Oil Arena’s largest stand and contributing to nearly half of the overall audience.
From the opening kick-off, they passionately made their presence known. The end-to-end action that began in the opening minutes set the stage for the excitement to follow.
Latics claimed the lead in the 16th minute when Mark Kitching’s cross found Nathan Sheron, who fired home a brilliant goal.
Oldham could have easily been up 4-0 by halftime with multiple scoring opportunities, including two for James Norwood and one for Devarn Green.
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Norwood’s shot in stoppage time of the first half appeared to be blocked near the goal line by his own teammate.
Early in the second half, Latics notched a second goal at the 49-minute mark when Kitching’s cross from the left was beautifully headed in by Green.
However, three minutes later, Dale’s Jimmy Keohane narrowed the gap to 2-1 with a low shot in the box. On the hour mark, the same midfielder Keohane secured his second goal, equalizing with a shot from inside the box.
This reinvigorated Latics, and on the 64th minute, Hope executed a stunning 20-yard shot that left Moulden helpless, putting Latics back in the lead.
Then Norwood, who had come close to scoring multiple times in the first half, extended the lead to 4-2 on the 72nd minute when Hope’s well-placed pass allowed him to slot the ball in for his first goal of the game.
Despite the electric atmosphere, Rochdale refused to surrender and pulled a goal back with Keohane completing his hat-trick by firing home from a corner on the right, nine minutes from normal time.
This led to a tense period for Latics, exacerbated by 18 minutes of added time. However, much to the fans’ delight, they held on to secure all three points.
