McAleny at the double as Latics thump Crawley

Conor McAleny bagged a brace as rampant Latics wrapped up their Easter double header on a huge high.

There was doom and gloom around Boundary Park on Good Friday evening after Keith Curle’s side lost 1-0 at home to Stevenage, but the team bounced back in style at Crawley on Easter Monday.

Latics triumphed 4-1 as Curle celebrated his second victory since taking over from Harry Kewell.

“We are picking up ideas and trying to play to our strengths,” said Curle.

“We are a forward-thinking team and we want a forward threat.

“We made Crawley look very static at times and there was a lot of solidity about our shape.”

Latics went into yesterday’s game with only one win in their previous 10 away league outings but, in a bright start, home goalkeeper Glenn Morris was quickly called into action.

The veteran made a fine double save after 18 minutes to keep out goalbound efforts from Callum Whelan and Davis Keillor-Dunn.

Two goals inside three minutes just before the break put Curle’s men in charge with top-scorer McAleny firing a beauty into the roof of the net from Keillor-Dunn's pass.

Recalled defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson then notched his first goal for the club, latching onto a pass by Dylan Fage to find the bottom corner.

Crawley were fortunate when Keillor-Dunn fired over after Morris could only block a shot by Dylan Bahamboula, but McAleny was on target again only two minutes after the interval, firing into the bottom corner after a long ball to the edge of the area.

Latics continued to threaten and Bahamboula had a free-kick held by Morris at the second attempt, Borthwick-Jackson having earlier shot just wide.

Off-song Crawley grabbed a consolation in the last minute when substitute James Tilley drilled a shot into the bottom corner after Latics failed to clear a corner.

But Bahamboula capped a fine Oldham display with their fourth goal from close range in stoppage time.

Curle’s opposite number John Yems held his hands up after his Crawley team had been thumped.

Yems said: “You can’t dress it up – we got outplayed.

“At one stage, I thought it might be seven or eight.

“We weren’t at it in all areas. Up until the last couple of games I thought we’ve had a good season – I don’t want it to end like this.

“Oldham had a better plan – but we know we can do better than that.”

Latics, who moved up a place into 17th in League Two, are next in action on Friday night when they host Colchester United (7pm kick-off).

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