Peter Clarke and Chris O’Grady on target as Oldham beat Crewe

Posted Sunday, December 09, 2018 by PA

Veterans Peter Clarke and Chris O’Grady were on target as Oldham claimed a 2-0 League Two win at Crewe with classy first-half finishes.

Oldham skipper Clarke’s thundering drive edged the Latics ahead and O’Grady’s smart finish doubled the lead before the break at Gresty Road.

But it might not have been such a comfortable win for Frankie Bunn’s men had on-loan Leicester goalkeeper Daniel Iversen not been in such fine form.

The Dane used his legs twice to keep out efforts from Callum Ainley and Charlie Kirk.

Iversen’s opposite number Ben Garratt was not so assured when he needed help clearing his lines after spilling Mohamed Maouche’s effort following a free-kick from the visitors.

Garratt was not even able to get a glove to Clarke’s piledriver from 30 yards which handed Oldham a 17th-minute lead.

The veteran centre-half charged forward and belted a right footer which flew into the top left-hand corner of the net to the delight of a travelling contingent of 1,027.

Iversen thwarted Shaun Miller as the Crewe striker danced in on goal before Oldham doubled their lead when O’Grady turned his marker on the edge of the box and planted a low shot into the bottom corner five minutes before the break.

After the restart Garratt kept out Chris Missilou’s touch to a corner before Iversen came to Oldham’s rescue again, coming off his line quickly to deny Crewe substitute Owen Dale.