Oldham 2, MK Dons 0: Latics show promotion drive

Lee Hughes celebrates his goal with front-line partner Lewis Alessandra

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LAST Wednesday’s Chronicle featured a pull-out called Top Tots, which gave readers a chance to vote for the cutest, most adorable nipper in Oldham.

It was also a chance to snigger at the silly names being dished out by misguided parents. And, as you’d expect, there were some absolute crackers.

Sadly, none compared with Audio Science (son of a clearly loopy American actress), Sage Moonblood (one of Sylvester Stallone’s) or Moon Unit and Diva Muffin (children of musician Frank Zappa, who might just have a slate loose).

Yet, incredibly, even those atrocities could be worse. Believe it or not — and google it if you don’t, because I don’t make this rubbish up – there’s an unfortunate young person in New Zealand called . . . wait for it . . . Number 16 Bus Shelter.

One can only assume that poor little Number 16 Bus Shelter was conceived in that very romantic spot and will soon begin legal proceedings against his or her numb-skulled parents, who ought to be locked up for mental cruelty.

Please folks, it’s always, always best to think of the child’s interests first, which is what me and the missus did with our three youngsters, Popeye, Wombat and Space Monkey.

Put another way, reckless decisions often come back to bite you, even if they seem like a good idea at the time.

Bravery turns to stupidity, bold predictions backfire. But, what the hell, let’s go for it anyway — if Athletic maintain their current form, they will definitely win promotion.

INJURIES

That’s a very big ‘if’ as injuries, suspensions and individual dips are bound to take effect, plus John Sheridan’s side had to dig deep against MK Dons before securing their fifth victory in six league games this season.

But performances so far have shown a unity of purpose, a spirit of togetherness, which refuses to budge. Oh, and Athletic are playing good football too.

In statistical terms, Saturday’s game was a clash of League One titans — one side on a terrific home run, the other formidable away.

Athletic had suffered just one defeat at Boundary Park in the whole of 2008, a sequence covering 14 matches and a tally of 33 points from a possible 42.

MK Dons, meanwhile, had even more to brag about as their away record in the last 12 months read 19 wins, two draws and two losses: 59 points out of 69.

Happily, the ensuing clash lived up to its billing as two good teams went for each others’ throats in an absorbing encounter.

First blood was drawn by Athletic when Lee Hughes, back in the fold after injury, scored a superb goal to hand them the lead.

Veteran ’keeper Mark Crossley protected it with his penalty save before chances were traded and man-of-the-match Mark Allott finally killed off the industrious visitors.

Though Athletic had already beaten teams supposedly better than MK Dons, this was their finest result, against their strongest opponents, of the campaign to date.

MK Dons were slick, sharp and competitive. They look sure to challenge for the play-offs. And Athletic still edged them in most areas of the pitch.

The opening goal, after eight minutes, came as a bolt from the blue as just a few seconds earlier Athletic had been scrambling to prevent a Dons attack.

Neal Eardley did the job before passing to Andy Liddell, whose ball down the line saw Hughes steal between two defenders and lob advancing ’keeper Willy Gueret from the corner of the box.

The finish by Hughes was instinctive and audacious, the perfect way to give yet another boost to Athletic’s confidence.

SCREAMED

And they could have doubled their lead only four minutes later as Gueret saved from Lewis Alessandra while Hughes screamed for the ball to his right.

Already the pace was frantic, but Dons wasted their penalty chance after Shaun Cummings crossed from the right and the ball deflected against Sean Gregan’s hand.

Athletic argued it was ball to hand rather than any deliberate offence, and maybe they had a point. But Crossley rendered the debate needless as he dived to his right and held on to Mark Wright’s low kick.

The next threat from Dons came via a header off target by Sean O’Hanlon, while Sam Baldock’s effort was ruled out for offside.

THWARTED

Gueret thwarted Allott after the midfielder’s strong run, but Athletic had an escape when Aaron Wilbraham, their former loanee, lifted a great chance over the bar.

There was a worse miss after 48 minutes, and this time Athletic were culpable as Alessandra met Eardley’s pinpoint cross six yards out and was foiled by Gueret’s brilliant save.

Gueret was the visitors’ star performer, but they also had outfield players giving Athletic a hard time — as a unit, Dons were a cut above the League One average.

Athletic, however, still had sights of goal, with Liddell hesitating a moment too long at the far post and Hughes falling victim to the latest fine stop by Gueret.

They battled as though their lives depended on it, while Crossley also played his part when Wilbraham’s 82nd-minute header threatened to fly under the bar.

Nerves started to fray — probably more so in the stands than on the pitch — but the hosts clinched victory in the fifth minute of injury time.

Allott’s powerful 25-yard drive left Gueret stranded and made sure unbeaten Athletic went three points clear at the top of the table.