TWO late Eoin Doyle piledrivers were enough to give Latics all three points in an entertaining derby clash at Boundary Park.

The Dubliner struck on 82 and 86 minutes to send the Latics faithful into delirium. Doyle’s second goal – a volley from 35 yards – was worth the entrance fee alone.

Maybe conscious of the fact Latics have been leaking goals – Athletic have by far and away the worst defence in League One – Richie Wellens made one major change to the side with Anthony Gerrard returning as captain at the expense of Peter Clarke who dropped to the bench.

But it was at the other end where all the action was early on.

This firecracker of a local derby was once dubbed “the el flat cap classico” and it was hats off to Latics right from the start when Cameron Dummigan nodded the hosts in front after only two minutes.

Gevaro Nepomuceno wrapped his left peg around the ball in the left corner to produce a superb deep cross which was emphatically despatched by the onrushing right back.

With Latics attacking at will and creating chance after chance it looked like only a matter of time before they would extend their advantage.

Some great one and two-touch flowing football was in abundance – just as the manager had demanded before the game.

Nepomuceno volleyed over from just outside the box and Eoin Doyle almost connected with Rob Hunt’s cross. Scintillating stuff.

On 16 minutes however, goalscorer Dummigan went from hero to villain when his sloppy header on the edge of his own box was latched onto by Matthew Done who closed in on goal to slide past Johny Placide – voted Player of the Month prior to kick-off – and make it 1-1. Undeterred, lively Latics continued to press, asking all the questions of a Rochdale side now showing signs of coming out of their collective shell.

Placide saved well from Calvin Andrew’s low shot on the spin after 28 minutes to make clear the Rochdale threat still existed – but it would be Athletic who came closest to a second.

When Dan Gardener’s shot from outside the box took a deflection as half time approached, the ball bobbled agonisingly just wide of the left-hand upright in one of those hold-your-breath style slow motion moments.

Some fans thought Craig Davies had headed Latics in front at the start of the second half only for his effort from a right-sided out-swinging Jack Byrne free kick to be blocked on the line by goalkeeper Josh Lillis.

Doyle – coming into the game more as it went on – went close soon after when he put his laces through a ball that hadn’t been properly cleared but Lillis again saved well in a frantic five-minute spell.

Latics had an almighty let-off on 67 minutes when Dale skipper Ian Henderson – one-on-one with Placide – couldn’t beat the Latics stopper who got his body in the way from close range after Dummigan had done enough to put him off.

Wellens sent on Aaron Amadi-Holloway in place of Davies with 13 minutes left and Menig replaced Byrne a minute later in a bid to change the attacking dynamic.

Within five minutes, Athletic were in front. A Gardner free-kick was only half cleared as the ball fell to Doyle who fired powerfully past Lillis.

Four minutes later Doyle made it 3-1 with a contender for goal of the season, smacking a volley past Lillis from fully 35 yards – a goal fit to seal any game. Job done.

LATICS: Placide, Dummigan, Gerrard (cpt) (Clarke85), Bryan, Hunt; Fane, Gardner, Byrne (Menig 78), Nepomuceno; Davies (Amadi-Holloway 77), Doyle. Subs (not used): Ben Wilson, Duffus, Omrani, Green.

Booked: Gardner 44, Fane 59, Placide 73.

ROCHDALE: Lillis, Rafferty, Ntlhe (Bunney 46), McNulty, McGahey, Andrew, Camps, Rathbone (Davies 85), Done, Inman (Gillam 68), Henderson. Subs (not used): Moore, Slew, Daniels, Kitching.

Attendance: 6,129.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.