Despite some last minute injuries to the player of the season so far, Shaun Hobson, and in-form Alex Reid, Oldham produced an excellent display from start to end at Woking last weekend in the first of a double header of away games in and around the capital.

From minute one the positivity flowed through the side with attacking intent being clear and showing that Micky Mellon is making inroads into changing that cautious mentality that has hung over the squad all season up to now.

Dan Gardner was superb throughout, getting us on the front foot and really being the playmaker popping up all over the pitch, taking control of our game.

This was the Gardner that we want to see more of and we can only hope he stays fit to become a real focal point of our team going forward.

He even managed a couple of glorious back heels, one of which ultimately led to a chance for Mike Fondop who, for the second time, after doing virtually the same in the first half, found himself off balance in the box and mishit his effort wide.

The only thing missing from Gardner’s man of the match display was a goal and he almost had one towards the end, hitting the bar from a wonderful flowing counter-attack.

This wasn’t a one man show though. James Norwood was excellent up top, which comes as no surprise from, for me, easily the standout centre forward in the league.

The more we continue to attack teams, the more Norwood will come to the fore and the only disappointment was that he didn’t come away with the match ball after missing two gilt-edged chances to go with his superb finish for the winner from a hopeful dink into the box from Devarn Green.

Josh Lundstram also had a great game, looking like he had finally had those mental shackles removed from him, giving us regular impetus going forward and Mark Kitching was back to his solid best at left back too.

This was alongside a commanding display from new centre half partnership Charlie Raglan and stand in skipper, Harrison McGahey.

If we had left Woking 5-0 victors nobody could have complained, such was the dominance we had, the chances we had and how we reduced Woking to just one opportunity which was well saved by Mat Hudson.

The shoots of recovery have been there on and off since Mellon took over but this was the first time you could really see that this was a side playing as their manager had told them to, on the front foot and taking the game to the opposition.

Long may that continue as we’ve been crying out for it since August.