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May 3, 2026

Oldham Athletic concluded their first season back in the Football League with a resounding 3-0 victory over Accrington Stanley, securing a commendable top-half finish. The match saw goalkeeper Mat Hudson achieve a new club record with his 19th clean sheet of the campaign, highlighting a strong defensive performance from the Latics.

The deadlock was broken in the 26th minute by defender Dynel Simeu, who powered a brilliant header across Accrington goalkeeper Oliver Wright. Simeu expertly connected with Kane Taylor's diagonal ball, giving Oldham a deserved lead and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Despite controlling much of the play, Oldham Athletic had to wait until the 64th minute to extend their advantage. Kane Taylor was at the heart of the action again, rounding off a flowing team move with a precise side-footed finish into the top corner. The goal was a testament to excellent build-up play involving Kai Payne and Tom Pett, who combined effectively to create the opportunity.

Defender Will Sutton, who had been deployed in an attacking role after veteran striker Joe Garner was substituted early in the second half, completed the scoring for Oldham. Sutton, having earned a corner through his good hold-up play, rose highest to head home, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 win for the home side.

Mat Hudson's record-breaking clean sheet was largely preserved through routine saves for much of the match. However, the Oldham Athletic stopper demonstrated his class late in the game with a brilliant double stop, first denying Conor Grant from distance and then reacting quickly to block Paddy Madden's rebound effort, ensuring his shutout remained intact.

This impressive result propelled Oldham Athletic to a 10th-place finish in the League Two standings, marking a successful return to the Football League with a strong top-half position. Accrington Stanley, their opponents, concluded their season in 16th place.