Fantastic Fondop does it again!
Reporter: Mark Rooney
Date published: 16 April 2025
Latics hit back to beat Hartlepool 2-1
A Mike Fondop special saw Latics come back from behind to beat Hartlepool 2-1 in the Good Friday fixture at Boundary Park in front of 6,717 fans.
It is result which ended a three-match winless run and sees Latics further strengthen their play-off hopes as they sit in fourth position in the National League table with only three rounds of matches left.
Latics gaffer Micky Mellon made three changes from their last game to start the match.
Leading scorer Fondop came in with Joe Garner dropping to substitute.
Vimal Yoganathan and Will Sutton came in to replace Jake Leake and Jordan Rossiter.
The first half saw the majority of possession from Oldham.
In the 16th minute Tom Conlan shot over from 20 yards before a second effort from the skipper one minute later was just wide.
Yoganathan then had a shot just over from distance.
It was just over the half hour when Hartlepool had their first real effort – from Tom Parkes, which was dealt with comfortably.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Jake Caprice’s low cross was cheekily backheeled goalwards but eventually scrambled away.
Then on 39 minutes the visitors took the lead.
It came after some good work on the left - a shot from Gary Madine well saved by Mat Hudson but, in the follow up, Mani Dieseruvwe headed home.
Hartlepool’s lead lasted barely a minute. Conlon’s corner was met by Charlie Raglan, and the defender’s downward header beat keeper Adam Smith.
The final action of the first half saw Fondop trying to beat a scrambling Smith, and Latics could consider themselves unlucky to not be leading after a first 45 minutes where they dominated.
The second half started evenly, though on 55 minutes Hudson was forced to save from Madine.
On the hour a Fondop header from a Conlon free kick rattled the post but he was adjudged to be offside in any event.
Two minutes later Latics' leading striker scored the winning goal - his 17th in the league and 19th for the season.
Caprice rampaged down the left wing, passed the ball onto Conlon and his pinpoint cross saw Fondop head home a goal and a lead that Latics’ performance clearly deserved.
Josh Lundstram, Corry Evans and Joe Garner replaced Kian Harrat, Vimal Yoganathan and Tom Conlon in the latter stages of the game as Oldham held on for victory.
Boss Mellon was pleased with his side’s performance.
“You’ve just got to get the victories,” he said after the game “and try and get the points at this stage of the season.
“I have obviously been disappointed with the last three games, but right from the start it was the mentality that was needed.
“All credit to the players today buoyed on by our incredible support. A really good day.”
He agreed that you need mentality at this stage of the season, adding: “I can speak about that, can encourage that, but you have to go and cross the line and deliver.”
Latics are next in action when they travel to York City on Easter Monday.
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