Micky Mellon views result at Colchester as an ‘important win’ for Oldham

Micky Mellon commended his play-off chasing Oldham side for an important victory following their 3-1 triumph at Colchester.

The Latics took an eighth-minute lead when defender Donervon Daniels tapped home from close range following Jamie Robson’s free-kick into the six-yard box.

And although Colchester levelled in the 54th minute when Kyreece Lisbie nodded home Jack Payne’s pass, two late goals sealed Oldham’s win.

Kane Taylor restored the visitors’ lead in the 87th minute when he glanced home Robson’s curled ball into the area, and they wrapped up victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Kane Drummond swept home after Mike Fondop had collected goalkeeper Matt Macey’s poor clearance and picked him out.

Mellon said: “It was an important victory and a terrific start to the weekend.

“I thought we played really well in the first half. We looked relatively comfortable and might have done a wee bit better with some of the opportunities.

“I thought we lost too many one-on-one defensive moments in the second half.

“To be fair to them, they made it very difficult for us and they’ve got a bit of pace to them in the sides, and we had to try and get pace against it.

“We were losing too many contacts and they started winning second balls. We had to grind our way through that and the keeper made a couple of good saves.

“But we believe that we’ve got players that hang in there and stick in there, and we managed to get a foothold back in it in the second half.”

Colchester boss Danny Cowley admitted his side “left the door open” for Oldham late on despite an improved second-half display.

Cowley said: “You can’t congratulate a team that only plays for one half.

“We just didn’t play in the first half, nowhere near enough intensity or quality, and we were really lacking at the top end of the pitch.

“The ball kept coming back and we were unable to get a platform in the game.

“The early goal doesn’t help and puts you on the back foot, but I’d expect us to show more character and intensity and quality than we did in the first half.

“In the second half, we were significantly better and played with more purpose and intensity and got on the front foot.

“We got a much-deserved goal, we were in the ascendency and bossing the game.

“There was only one team that wins and we get chance, chance, chance and don’t take them and then you leave the door open.

“We go 2-1 down just before the 90 minutes and then you chase and get done on the counter.”