Oldham Athletic’s promotion push hit a winter wall Saturday as Aldershot Town stormed Boundary Park to claim a 3-1 victory that left 5,960 stunned supporters heading into the cold disappointed.

The Latics dominated early proceedings and deservedly took the lead in the 41st minute when Manny Monthe thundered home a header from Josh Kay’s free-kick. But their advantage evaporated within three minutes as Josh Barrett twice found himself unmarked to chip Matt Hudson, first in the 44th minute and again in stoppage time, transforming the match with Aldershot’s only shots on target.

Barrett completed his hat-trick six minutes after the restart, driving home from an angle to make it 3-1, before goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst denied Billy Waters from the penalty spot in the 66th minute, pushing the substitute’s firm strike onto the post.

“Hugely disappointed,” manager Mickey Mellon said afterward. “My honest opinion coming in at half time was I could not believe we were losing - the goals we gave away were rubbish. Without being brilliant we were comfortable and were in control but if you give goals away like the ones we gave away… we didn’t know what we were doing!”

The defeat, which completed a league double for the visitors, came despite strong performances from debutants Jordan Rossiter and Corry Evans, who was substituted at halftime with a calf strain. Oldham must now regroup quickly for Tuesday’s top-of-the-table clash against York City.

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