When Oldham Athletic hosts Altrincham at Boundary Park on Saturday, they aim to get back to winning ways.
Oldham’s seven-game unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end in a tough 3-0 loss at AFC Fylde in midweek, and manager Micky Mellon suffered his first loss in the hot seat. At Mill Farm, Latics never really got going as the hosts scored quickly in a one-two, giving the visitors a difficult task. Dangerman Jonathan Ustabasi was located by Luke Charman on the right, and his intense drive skillfully found the bottom corner.
A few minutes later, Josh Kay produced his first precise finish of the season, meeting Connor Barrett’s powerful smash across the box after the latter went on a strong run down the right flank.
If Mathew Hudson hadn’t been in goal for Oldham, the final score might have been far worse. Hudson stopped Nick Haughton, Ustabasi, and Kay before the third goal.
Ustabasi’s second goal and Fylde’s third contributed to the end of Latics’ four-game road winning streak. It was the last of a three-game road trip, during which the team saw a respectable return (2 victories, 1 loss).
The Turkish forward completed an outstanding performance for Fylde. After winning the ball back high, Ustabasi produced a spectacular shot that found the top corner to secure all three points. Oldham hasn’t won at home in their last two games, but this weekend’s return to Boundary Park could see them extend their winning streak to five games. The loss was the team’s first goalless game since a 3-0 loss to Bromley in mid-September.
Prior to his arrival, Oldham defeated Altrincham in the FA Cup qualifying round. Mellon will try to repeat that performance, but he will be without captain Liam Hogan because the midweek incident resulted in his dismissal.
The manager of Latics, who hasn’t faced this team in the National League since taking over as Fleetwood Town manager in 2010, will be looking to win his first game against Altrincham following a 1-0 loss in their only previous encounter.
Oldham can no longer afford to give up any more ground to those in positions of authority. A victory this weekend would propel them up to ninth place, but they are five points behind seventh-place Aldershot Town.
The Counterpart
With a 1-1 draw against Kidderminster on Tuesday at J.Davidson Stadium, Altrincham extended their winning run to eight National League games. Though the Harriers had a brilliant start, with Reiss McNally putting in the first goal inside the first two minutes of play, the hosts were generally in control for significant chunks of the contest.
Although Altrincham responded well, the hosts didn’t find an equalizer until less than 30 minutes had passed. Isaac Marriott and Alex Newby both missed their respective opportunities after less than 15 minutes had passed.
The goal was assisted by center forward Justin Amaluzor, who made a nice inside pass to teammate Lewis Banks, whose deft side-footed finish found the bottom corner to tie the score. The last thirty minutes of the game saw the last burst of action. After Christian Dibble brilliantly blocked a well-worked free kick, Edward Jones made a good effort on goal.
Dior Angus had space inside the area after a deft exchange between Southern Cooper, Chris Conn-Clarke, and Dior Cooper in and around the box; however, his finish lacked conviction as he rocketed over the upright.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Samson Robinson gave the visitors their final chance. He used a deft stepover to create space inside the box, and when his shot whistled just wide of the far post, the crowd gasped.
Amaluzor had Altrincham’s last and possibly best chance of the half, but his first attempt was stopped by Dibble’s feet, and his second attempt, with the goal gaping, was sadly blasted over the bar.
The game was entertaining, and although the result kept Altrincham unbeaten in league play, that final effort meant they had now lost their last two games across all competitions. Given that his team had previously won five straight games, manager Phil Parkinson will undoubtedly be hoping it doesn’t become a new trend for them.
Returning to the road this weekend may help Altrincham build on their current season-long success when they visit a different venue. Right now, they own the league’s fourth-best away record.
Along with being one of only two teams to have won their previous three away games, they have also demonstrated defensive stability away from home, keeping two clean sheets in their previous three away games. The midweek draw kept Altrincham in fifth place, but it allowed Halifax and Aldershot Town to catch up and fall just one point behind. This weekend’s fifth road victory would be necessary to maintain one’s position as one of the top playoff contenders and could propel Altrincham over Solihull.
Principal Danger
Prior to the match at Boundary Park, there would undoubtedly be a variety of threats to be aware of because this team is among the top five in the National League thus far this season. However, Amaluzor, the center forward, was the most dangerous.
Although the 27-year-old’s output hasn’t quite lived up to expectations thus far, his overall play demonstrates how vital he is to Altrincham. He has only scored twice in the National League this season, the second of which came more recently in the 2-0 victory at Gateshead.
As the focal point of this Altrincham team, Amaluzor poses an all-around threat. He can link plays, be a man to play off, or provide his teammates an outball. The striker has shown himself to be a very valuable asset in the final third of the pitch.
His ability to stray into wide channels and offer an option during his midweek performance against the Harriers added yet another dimension to his game, and his performance at Gateshead demonstrated his adaptability.
In addition, he possessed the skill to take the ball on a half-turn and drive with it at his feet after dropping deep. With a composed finish at the end, his goal in the game demonstrated his movement and spatial awareness, which led to the scoring opportunity.
Amaluzor possesses the qualities of a center forward that make him a serious threat to National League defenses. Strong, agile, and technically adept, the Latics will need to make significant progress on defense if they hope to silence him.
In the pit
Parkinson has only managed twice in his career, but he has made good progress at the J.Davidson Stadium. He quickly led Altrincham to a title-winning season after starting out in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League, winning the trophy in his first season (2017–18).
The following season, Parkinson’s Altrincham continued to be a threat all the way up to the sixth tier of the football pyramid, coming in a strong fifth and again ending the season with the highest score (85).
The previous season ended in a heartbreaking playoff exit, but the 19/20 season brought more success. Parkinson had lost his previous two playoff games, both of which occurred in the semi-final; his first playoff loss occurred when he was a player for Nantwich Town.
After two straight fifth-place finishes, Altrincham advanced to the playoffs with ease thanks to a strong showing. Although York and Boston had finished ahead of Parkinson’s team in the standings, the team defeated Chester, York City, and Boston United in the championship match.
In his first season as manager in the National League, Parkinson led his team to a 17th-place finish in the 20/21 campaign, but it was undoubtedly a wake-up call that they needed to raise their game even further.
After 16 games played, Altrincham has made an incredible leap to their best start to a league season under Parkinson. The following season, a slight improvement was insufficient to close the gap to the playoff spots.
Parkinson will certainly want to return to the winning column after a two-game spell without a win, whilst his side will have revenge on their minds when they come up against the side who dumped them out of the FA Cup.
Match Officials
Today’s referee is Aaron Jackson, with Stephen Rushworth and Daniel Woolley taking up the lines and William Davis operating as fourth official.
Match coverage and information
Live audio commentary is available on Latics Player, guiding you through the match.
For more information, visit the Latics Player page by clicking here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club’s official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC
As this game is being played within the blocked broadcast hours stipulated by UEFA, live streaming will not be available through National League TV for supporters in the UK. The game will be available overseas.
Matchday passes are available for £9.50, with further details here.
As always, we will endeavour to ensure confirmation of the line-up is published as soon as possible
