Erwin double secures huge win

GOAL DOUBLE . . . Lee Erwin

ATHLETIC 2, OXFORD UTD 1

LEE Erwin's headed double earned Athletic a massive victory in the battle against the drop.

The Scot headed in a rebound after strike partner Aaron Amadi-Holloway had crashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar in the 36th minute.

Amadi-Holloway, Peter Clarke and Ryan McLaughlin had all gone close before that opener, while at the other end Connor Ripley had to be alert to keep out a Chris Maguire shot, with Kane Hemmings volleying wastefully wide from point-blank range.

Oxford levelled on the hour when Maguire latched on to a loose ball and in trying to go round Ripley, was brought down by the goalkeeper for a penalty. He rolled it home, sending Ripley the wrong way.

It took Athletic only 10 minutes to regain the lead, though. Ryan McLaughlin's excellent cross from the right was met by Erwin, who headed across Eastwood and inside the far post.

Athletic withstood pressure in the closing stages to see out a seventh win this season under John Sheridan.