LATICS have been working on the sequel to the incredible free-kick routine that led to Alfie McCalmont’s goal in the win over Colchester United.

A cluster of Oldham players stood between the goalkeeper and the wall and jumped on the spot up until McCalmont was ready to strike the ball.

The Leeds loanee crashed it in off the post to hand Latics a 2-0 lead at the time, and make the set piece even more impressive.

On the night, head coach Keith Curle said there was another element to the routine that they would look to try next. But it will be up to Morecambe if they use it tomorrow.

“There is a part two to that – it’s good! But the part two depends on what the opposition do,” said Curle.

“If the opposition don’t do what we need them to do then we stick with Plan A.”

The success of last week’s remarkable set piece not only resulted in a goal, but it reaffirmed to Curle how receptive his players are to the training ground work they are doing.

“I analyse every game, straight after the game and first thing the next morning I always look at it with fresh eyes, and then take bits out of it, speak to the analysts, speak to the coaching staff, show the clips to the relevant players where we’ve picked something up that we think can improve them, and then it’s onto the opposition,” he said.

“All the individual clips are clipped and we send it to the players and we make ourselves available for any comments that they’ve got on it.

“And then we do a presentation that we put on for the players just for the players to watch themselves and again we make ourselves available for any questions that they’ve got.”

And Curle is encouraged by the positive and productive reaction he has received from players.

“That’s the environment I try to create,” he explained. “They’ve got to understand I’m here as a coach but I’m here to help them develop, so it’s important then that they understand their role within it as well.

“If they’re not sure of anything, come and ask me.”

Recent results have helped in lifting spirits within the camp too, after backing up the 4-1 Easter Monday win at Crawley with last Friday’s 5-2 home win over Colchester.

“The players have been buoyant. They came in on Monday like children on Christmas Eve,” said Curle.

“I think they’re more buoyant because they showed a little bit of character and didn’t panic when the score went to 3-2.

“Scoring two late goals put everyone at ease and makes it a little bit easier. It’s a good characteristic to have within the group – just because the opposition score, it doesn’t affect what we want to try to do.”