Ahead of the Game: Oldham Athletic (A)

William Bewsey
5:00pm, Mon 7th Apr 2025

Oldham Athletic vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 8th April 2025
19:45 Kick-Off

Oldham Athletic await the Cards on Tuesday night at Boundary Park with Neal Ardley’s side hoping to bounce back quickly from Saturday’s controversial defeat at Aldershot Town.

Ardley will have the likes of Josh Osude, Chin Okoli and Sam Ashford fit and firing to go after they were all cup tied, as he looks to balance out his squad ahead of the Cards’ last Tuesday night fixture of the season. He will also have Harry Beautyman after his red card was rescinded.

With an opportunity to go six points clear of the drop, this is a game Woking must be up for against a side who have their own ambitions of a late top three push.

Opposition Watch
It’s never boring at Oldham Athletic. A team whose top scorer is technically on loan at Wealdstone with 16 goals to his name, yet it’s likely that the Latics will definitely play a home eliminator in the playoffs at least, despite a whopping 15 draws this season (only Woking and Hartlepool have more draws).

Micky Mellon knows his best bet of winning over the Oldham faithful is to win the playoffs and get them promoted back to the EFL, but the painful inconsistency his side have shown means they’ve won just two of their last eleven games. This was after three straight wins at Fylde, Rochdale and Solihull in early February had them galvanised following no wins in five before then. Frustrating form for a side who had title aspirations after a stellar end to 2024.

Yet with Forest Green Rovers still to play, and a nine point gap but this falling as the Latics’ game in hand, a win over the Cards would ramp up the pressure on third place and the chance to be two games from promotion. Mellon will hope that serial promotion winner James Norwood can break a seven game duck if the injury he was taken off with at Southend is dealt with, whilst former Woking defender Jake Caprice has been a mainstay at wing back.

Around the Ground
Ticket information is available here.

There is no coach running to this game.

Last Time Out
Goals from Josh Lundstram, James Norwood and Mike Fondop were enough for all three points back in September despite Charley Kendall’s wonder strike at the Laithwaite.
The last meeting at Boundary Park in January 2024 saw Jermaine Anderson’s goal seconds after half time claim all three points, with both games finishing 1-0 to the away side last season.

Match Report | Cards produce perfect away performance at Boundary Park

William Bewsey
9:49pm, Tue 8th Apr 2025

Oldham Athletic 1-2 Woking
Vanarama National League
8th April 2025

After the dramatic and controversial events of Saturday, Woking picked themselves up to travel to Boundary Park, with Oldham Athletic awaiting them. Four changes were made by Neal Ardley, as Dan Moss and Frank Vincent were left out of the squad entirely, whilst Tunji Akinola and Inih Effiong made the bench as in came Dion Kelly-Evans, Chinwike Okoli, Aiden O’Brien and Sam Ashford.

Elsewhere, the hosts had no space in their squad for former Woking right back Jake Caprice, as they welcomed back Mat Hudson in goal. Another notable absence included James Norwood, whilst Billy Waters, signed from Wrexham in January was replaced at the last minute on the bench.

Just over two minutes in, a low cross from Jordan Rossiter found Mike Fondop, whose shot was parried straight into the path of Kian Harratt to give the hosts an early lead.

The hosts were looking to tear into the wounded Cards, with Josh Lundstram’s cross skewed wide on the volley by Shaun Hobson. Woking responded with a couple of well worked moves ending in no real chance being created, but signs that they were coming back into the game with half an hour gone.

Half time came with Oldham fairly comfortable after their early opener, with Woking unable to break down the Latics’ defence.

Half-time: Oldham 1-0 Woking

Last season, it took Woking thirty seconds after half time to score at Boundary Park. This time it took three minutes, as a delightful cross from the left hand side by Walker was nodded home by the diving head of the smallest player on the pitch in Kelly-Evans.

With just under an hour gone, the turnaround was complete. A long ball forward was misjudged by Hudson, but take nothing away from Walker’s finish. A good 25 yards out as he scooped the ball over the keeper and into his empty net.

Micky Mellon responded with a triple change for the hosts, but Walker found some space down the left again before his shot deflected into the grateful arms of Hudson.

Ashford and O’Brien made way for Effiong and Josh Osude as Woking looked to capitalise on a shell shocked Latics side, who thought they had an equaliser when Lundstram’s shot was parried into Garner’s path, but the flag was swiftly raised.

Oldham, with their four subs made in order to try and impact the game, managed to break away in the 88th minute but Vimal Yoganathan’s close range effort was well saved by Jaaskelainen.

Osude’s run down the right wing and low cross narrowly evaded Effiong as the game entered seven minutes of injury time. Substitute Tom Pett’s through ball was perfect for Lundstram, who blazed high and wide, before a number of chances for the hosts were spurned.

Then came the full time whistle and huge relief for the Cards, with Boston winning as well meaning they have a six point cushion over 21st. On to Fylde on Saturday.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Kelly-Evans, Hinds, Odusina, Okoli, Andrews, Gorman (Anderson 88’), Walker (Akinola 80’), Beautyman (Chicksen 80’), O’Brien (Osude 64’), Ashford (Effiong 64’)

Subs: Webber, Lawson

Goals: Kelly-Evans 48’, Walker 58’

Oldham Athletic : Hudson, Kitching, Hobson, Lundstram, Fondop, Conlon (Yoganathan 60’), Rossiter (Pett 60’), Raglan, Uchegbulam, Worthington (Pritchard 68’), Harratt (Garner 60’)

Subs: Donaghy, Evans, Sutton

Goals: Harratt 3’

Man of the Match: ‘Headed away by Okoli’ was the common line from the Oldham commentators, with the Millwall loanee imperious again.