Oldham fail to break through in clash with fellow-strugglers Scunthorpe United

Oldham Athletic's Callum Whelan with Myles Hippolyte of Scunthorpe United

Two second-half goals from Scunthorpe substitute Ryan Loft left Latics defeated in a Boxing Day clash that was literally a 'game of two halves'.

It was Oldham who scored first after 12 minutes as Harry Vaughan created a chance for Benny Couto to long-foot the ball into the top right hand corner of The Iron's net.

It could have been 2-0 moments later following an Oldham corner, but Jack Stobbs right-footed a shot high and wide.

Just 6 minutes after the restart, Scunthorpe substitute Ryan Loft found the bottom left hand corner, following a cross from Myles Hipplyte.

The visitors seemed to have found extra vigour in the second half with near misses from Ryan Loft and Tom Pugh, putting Oldham's Jayson Leutwiler under pressure.

Scunthorpe's Myles Hippolyte finally found the back of the net with a deft left-footed shot from the centre of the box in the 74th minute.

Just 3 minutes later, Loft took advantage of a Hayden Hackney through-ball and powered a confident shot into the bottom right hand corner, ultimately securing Scunthorpe's first away victory for 22 games.

Oldham remain in a precarious position, at the bottom of the basement division of the EFL.

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