Gillingham 1 Oldham Ath 0, Priestfield Stadium, League One, 14/Nov/09

Febian Brandy's fairytale Gillingham start continued as the Manchester United loanee was the star of the show once more as Oldham were beaten 1-0. Brandy bagged a goal and an assist on his debut last weekend and the 20-year-old was at it again against the Latics, winning the decisive penalty which Curtis Weston converted. He might have given the Gills a lead on 24 minutes but after good work from Andy Barcham his effort was blocked by Reuben Hazell. And Brandy was involved in the best effort of the half ten minutes later when his lay off was curled onto the crossbar by Weston. Brandy started where he left off after the break and when he was brought down by Sean Gregan, Weston made no mistake from the spot to break the deadlock after 61 minutes. Despite some late Oldham pressure, the Gills held on for their fifth home win of the season.
Oldham Ath 0 Leeds Und 2, Boundary Park, FA Cup 3rd Round, 07/Nov/09
Athletic made four changes to the side which had lost 1-0 at home to Huddersfield a week earlier. Darryl Flahavan and Lee Hills, both arriving on loan from Crystal Palace, started in goal and at left-back respectively in place of Dean Brill and Alan Sheehan. Chris Taylor — at the heart of most of Athletic’s attacks — came in on the left of midfield with Whitaker dropping to the bench and Alex Marrow was back to add bite in central midfield. Flahavan was called into action after 14 minutes when Reuben Hazell’s weak header back to him was pounced on by the lively Bradley Johnson. The goalkeeper did well to rush out and block the Leeds man’s effort. Michael Doyle then went close for Leeds, firing over and wide from the corner of the area after Johnson’s free-kick was charged down. Colbeck then fluffed his lines and the visitors took the lead nine minutes before half-time. Good work in the build-up from Robert Snodgrass enabled Howson to let fly with a let-footed drive from 30 yards out. The angled shot across Flahavan took a deflection off the unlucky Andy Holdsworth and flew into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Up to that point, the midfield battle was being won by Leeds, with ex-Athletic loan man Neil Kilkenny — booked for dissent in the second half — pulling the strings along with Michael Doyle. Things improved in that regard for Athletic in the second half, but efforts on goal continued to be at a premium. Taylor scuffed an effort tamely into the arms of Ankergren when it appeared to sit up prettily for the shot. From a similar position, the left winger made a far better connection after picking up a failed Kisnorbo clearance but the ’keeper was able to push the shot round his right-hand post. Penney brought on Ryan Brooke for the final stages and the striker looked lively, firing a shot wide three minutes from time and providing a much-needed focal point up front. But Leeds made sure of their progress deep into injury time. A floated Hills free-kick from deep was cleared and Snodgrass broke away before releasing substitute Aidan White down the right. His careful ball across goal was controlled by fellow replacement Grella, who neatly cut inside on to his right foot and fired into the roof of the net.
Oldham Ath: Flahavan; Holdsworth, Hazell, Gregan, Hills; Colbeck (Whitaker 37), Marrow, Furman (Brooke 80), Taylor; Smalley, Parker (Lee 72). Subs not used: Brill, Jacobson, Black, Eaves.
Ref: Mr Gavin Ward (Surrey)
Att: 5,552
Oldham Ath 0 Huddersfield T 1, Boundary Park, League One, 01/Nov/09
Huddersfield moved into the League One play-off places courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Oldham at Boundary Park. Full-back Robbie Williams sealed the points with a cunning free-kick which condemned the Latics to back-to-back home defeats. Huddersfield had the better of a wind-affected game and almost went ahead when top scorer Jordan Rhodes glanced against the bar from an Anthony Pilkington set piece. Oldham had a lucky escape when Sean Gregan appeared to handle a Gary Roberts cross, only for the referee to turn down penalty claims. But Huddersfield broke through after 59 minutes. Williams lined-up his free kick to the left of goal and, with keeper Dean Brill expecting a cross, he instead smashed it inside the near post.
Rhodes went close to doubling the lead and Michael Collins also wasted a chance before Oldham created their best opening after 78 minutes. Ex-Huddersfield striker Pawel Abbott cut into the box and was denied by Alex Smithies before the rebound flew off target via substitute Nick Blackman.
Brighton 0 Oldham Ath 2, Withdean Stadium, League One, 24/October/09
Second-half goals from Pawel Abbott and Reuben Hazell sealed a 2-0 Oldham win and sent Brighton diving to their fifth defeat in seven home games. Michel Kuipers did well to keep out a low shot from midfielder Joe Colbeck in the 26th minute before Andrew Crofts headed a Elliott Bennett corner narrowly over. Oldham striker Abbott curled a shot over shortly after the break following a defensive slip by Brighton skipper Adam Virgo. But Abbott broke the deadlock 12 minutes after the interval with a deflected shot from 20 yards which left keeper Kuipers wrong footed. Abbott's effort lacked pace but Kuipers could not recover after the ball came off Virgo.
Veteran striker Nicky Forster was twice off target for Brighton before defender Hazell's first goal of the season clinched the points for Oldham nine minutes from time. Hazell beat Kuipers with a side-foot finish as Brighton failed to deal with a free-kick into the six-yard box by Irishman Alan Sheehan. Welsh midfielder Andrew Crofts headed against the bar for the struggling Seagulls in stoppage time.