Oldham Athletic AFC 3 : 0 Rochdale - Turner double decks Dale

Posted Wednesday, March 25, 2015 by PA

Teenager Rhys Turner's brace helped Oldham boss Dean Holden secure a first home win as they swept aside local rivals Rochdale with a 3-0 triumph.

The 19-year-old struck either side of Jonathan Forte's 15th goal of the season on a night when Dale, who lost four players to injury, squandered the chance to move into the top six.

Young goalkeeper Joel Coleman shook off a calf injury to feature and was preferred to Blackburn loanee Jake Kean but the chosen stopper had a blooper-reel first-half moment when his right leg swiped at a high bouncing ball, with Jamie Allen just unable to cash in.

Oldham broke from Coleman's error and Mike Jones' dipping 30-yard try kissed the top of the crossbar.

The visitors could not capitalise on Coleman's blip but the hosts took full advantage of his counterpart's slip-up 30 minutes in as Turner fired into the net after Jamie Jones feebly pushed Mat Sadler's tame effort into his path.

Injuries blighted Keith Hill's men throughout the first period and the attacking triumvirate of Peter Vincenti, Allen and Stephen Dawson were all forced off before half-time.

Latics put the game beyond their neighbours with a quick-fire brace around the hour mark.

First Forte snaffled up his second chance with a low finish from Jones' cross after Oldham's top scorer's had seen his initial try blocked.

Then, three minutes later, the hosts had a bizarre third as Turner walked through a massive gap in Dale's defence and, despite his dithering approach, he finally flicked his second goal into the net.

Substitute Bastien Hery failed to hit the target as Rochdale sought a way back but they finished their miserable evening with 10 men as Ashley Eastham became the fourth player to succumb to injury.