OLDHAM boss Dino Maamria had boasted about his record at Brunton Park in the build-up to the visit to Carlisle but was forced to eat his words after slipping to a first defeat as Latics boss.

Ahead of the game, Maamria said “every time I go there, I win” about the Cumbrians’ ground but Oldham were left stunned as Olufela Olomola’s third-minute goal clinched Carlisle’s first home win since the opening day.

And while the Latics improved after that early body blow, their boss was left lamenting the sluggish start that drops them to 20th in the League Two table.

“There were some good bits, lots of good bits,” said Maamria. “The biggest thing is that you don’t come to places like this and concede in the manner that we did in the third minute.

“The gameplan was to make sure we stay in the game. Obviously we wanted to get that first goal and put them under pressure but our start was very, very sloppy. 

“We controlled the game after that, but we had some great chances. I think if we’d have put one of those chances in then we’d have gone on to win it. 

“We got some fantastic support. I want to thank every one of the fans and I’m disappointed we didn’t give them the performance they deserve.”

Oldham have now won just one of their last six and originally named an unchanged line-up to the side which kicked off Maamria’s tenure at the club with victory against Morecambe.

But a late change occurred, with Gary Woods replacing Zeus de la Paz in goal, and they got off to the worst possible start as Olomola opened the scoring after just three minutes.

Harry McKirdy did well to drive into the box and find the in-form striker to fire home his fifth goal of the season.

The 22-year-old almost doubled his tally in the fifth minute when he forced Woods into a good save before the Latics gained a foothold and Desire Segbe Azankpo narrowly missed the target with a first-time effort on the turn.

Woods easily claimed Mohammed Sagaf’s effort, before Christopher Missilou blasted off target down the other end.

The Latics continued to try and find an equaliser with Johan Branger-Engone and Azankpo nodding off target while, after the break, Mohamed Maouche went close to levelling.

Just after the hour, Maamria made two changes to try and turn his team’s fortunes around with Chris Eagles and Scott Wilson replacing Filipe Morais and Azankpo.

Woods then kept the Latics in the game with a super save to deny home substitute Ryan Loft before the visitors continued to push for a late leveller to steal a share of the spoils.

Maouche’s teasing free-kick evaded everyone in the box, before Missilou headed straight at Adam Collin and that meant the Latics headed back south with nothing to show for their efforts.

The performance was in stark contrast to the 3-1 win over Morecambe seven days prior and the manager is now eyeing consistency in order to climb the table.

“We’ve got a good group,” he added. “Last week was a fantastic performance, but here we’ve dropped a level.

“If you’re going to be serious about winning, you’ve got to do more the following week to win again. I think that’s something I’m going to have to instil in them. 

“They’re good lads, there are no bad eggs here and it’s a pleasure to work with them.

"They just need to learn how to win games consistently because if we’re serious about this season we should come to places like this, no disrespect to Carlisle, and win.”


Carlisle: Adam Colin, Christie Elliott, Jack Iredale, Byron Webster, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Mike.Jones, Gethin.Jones, Mohammed Sagaf, Nathan Thomas (Hallam Hope, 45), Harry McKirdy (Ryan Loft, 70), Olufela Olomola.
Unused subs: Louis Gray, Elias Sorensen, Canice Carroll, Jon Mellish, Jarrad Branthwaite,

Oldham: Gary Woods 6, Zak Mills 5, Alex Iacovitti 5, David Wheater 5, Tom Hamer 5, Johan Branger 5 (Dylan Fage 73, 4), Filipe Morais 5 (Chris Eagles 64, 4), Mohamed Maouche 5, Christopher Missilou 4, Mohamed Sylla 5, Desire Azankpo 4 (Scott Wilson 64, 5).
Unused subs: Zeus de la Paz, Jamie Stott, Tomas Egert, Jonny Smith

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 4,321