Oldham Athletic squandered a golden opportunity to solidify their play-off position Tuesday night, surrendering a first-half lead to fall 2-1 to Woking before 5,664 stunned supporters at Boundary Park.

Mike Fondop’s third-minute strike—finished by Kian Harratt after the striker’s own shot was parried—had the hosts dreaming of a crucial victory, but two defensive lapses in the opening quarter-hour after the restart turned the contest on its head. Dion Kelly-Evans levelled in the 49th minute, powering home a Walker cross for his first league goal of the campaign, before Walker himself struck nine minutes later, lofting a composed finish over goalkeeper Mat Hudson after latching onto a long ball.

Manager Micky Mellon, who had recalled top scorer Fondop alongside new starters Josh Lundstram, Jez Uchegbulam and Matt Worthington, threw on four substitutes in a frantic bid to rescue the contest. Joe Garner thought he had equalised instantly after his 60th-minute introduction, only for the flag to deny him, and further efforts from Uchegbulam, Lundstram and Garner again—another offside decision—could not breach a resolute Cards defence.

“The goals we gave away were really poor and very avoidable,” Mellon admitted afterwards. “We just didn’t seem able to get going. I don’t know why we didn’t pass it enough like we wanted to. Hugely disappointing, but at this time of year you have to learn the lesson about what it takes at this time of the season.”

The defeat leaves Latics still in the play-off mix ahead of Saturday’s daunting trip to Yeovil, with a Good Friday visit from Hartlepool next on the calendar.

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