It took a penalty and a late goal for Oldham to confirm fifth place as the Fleet’s National League stay ended at Boundary Park on the last day of the 2024/25 season.

There were two changes for the visitors as Felix Goddard made his first league start and Maxx Manktelow returned, with Mark Cousins and Dominic Poleon on the bench instead.

An early chance arrived for the hosts three minutes in as Joe Pritchard’s volley towards goal ricocheted off the woodwork.

The Fleet’s first chance of the match came a quarter of an hour in as George Moncur ran the length of the pitch to win a corner. He whipped the set piece into area only to see Mat Hudson punch it clear. 

The Latics were awarded a penalty on 36 minutes after Mustapha Olagunju wrestled Joe Garner down and referee Richard Aspinall pointed straight to the spot. Garner stepped up to take and converted from the spot.

Goddard pulled off his first of several good saves of the afternoon when he palmed Vimal Yoganathan’s effort clear of danger to keep Fleet in it as half-time approached.

Goddard once again found himself involved in the action as he cleared from Mark Kitching’s downward header seven minutes into the second period.

The Fleet began to find their feet as they pushed forward and Aaron Bolger looked to pick out an unmarked Aaron Cosgrave with a quick-thinking long pass across the field but Hudson managed to collect before the Fleet striker could get to it. 

Goddard continued to shut Oldham out as he denied Yoganathan once again before Pritchard fired across the face of goal but nobody arrived to turn the ball home.

Substitute Corry Evans hit a good effort from range just off target and fellow sub Mike Fondop tried to lob over Goddard’s head but the Fleet keeper read it well. 

Garner was blocked on the line for a corner late on but a second goal did arrive for the Latics with four minutes left when Yoganathan’s shot came back off the bar and Garner was well placed to head the rebound beyond Goddard for his brace.

EUFC: Goddard, O’Neill, Manktelow, Olagunju, Lankshear, Chapman, Bolger, Carr, Edser, Moncur, Cosgrave (Poleon 72). Subs: Wright, Tanga, Kymani Thomas, Anthony, Cousins
OAFC: Hudson, Ogle, Kitching (Uchegbulum 83), Pett (Conlon 77), Garner (Lundstram 89), Rossiter (Evans 63), Raglan, Sutton, Harratt (Fondop 63), Yoganathan, Pritchard. Subs: Hammond, Donaghy
Attendance: 7,493 (94 EUFC)

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