Mike Fondop’s late strike from a rebound after his saved penalty secured a dramatic 3-2 victory for Oldham Athletic over Wealdstone at Boundary Park, strengthening their National League play-off position.

The substitute striker’s ninth league goal of the season came in the 79th minute, completing a remarkable comeback after Wealdstone had raced to a 2-0 lead within the opening half-hour. Micah Obiero, starting in place of ineligible loanee Alex Reid, capitalized on defensive hesitation to fire home after just three minutes, before Max Kretzschmar doubled the visitors’ advantage on 28 minutes following more poor Oldham defending.

Josh Stones pulled one back for the home side on 44 minutes, heading home Caprice’s cross, and completed his brace one minute after the restart to level matters. The momentum shifted dramatically as Oldham pressed for a winner, with Fondop heading wide on 76 minutes before his decisive intervention three minutes later when he was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.

” What I must say is that Wealdstone came here and gave a really good account of themselves, and, as we were undercooked, I thought they were really good,” said relieved Latics boss Micky Mellon. “But they couldn’t contain us and eventually we were able to take the result we would have liked.”

Mellon acknowledged his side’s rustiness after their league layoff but praised their character: “When you have a lay like we have had in the league you forget about the tempo, but then you get back on it and get the three points and a massive Christmas present.”

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