2nd April 2000     

Holt strike sinks Cambridge

That moment sparked a relative flood of excitement as Steve Whitehall shot wide for the home side and Mark Allott hit a 20-yard volley to bring a scrambling stop from Perez. Injury to Laney saw the visitors bring on new signing Jonathan Hunt, making his debut on-loan from Sheffield United. But the infusion of new blood made precious little difference to a first half which began badly and headed downhill fast. The second half started with a bout of push-and-shove in the Cambridge box after Allott and Scott Eustace clashed while chasing a deep cross. Both players escaped with a telling off from referee John Brandwood, who sometimes needed two pairs of eyes in a game of off-the-ball niggles. Oldham came close to the breakthrough after 57 minutes when Scott McNiven's angled shot was cleared off the line by Cambridge skipper Paul Wanless.

Substitute Mark Innes tried his luck from long range but Oldham continued to struggle up-front until their opponents finally buckled 15 minutes from time. Wing-back Holt was superbly found by McNiven's long ball from the right. He slid in at the far post, never breaking stride as he met the pass at full pace and drilled beyond Perez from 10 yards. The goal lifted a weight from Oldham's shoulders and they went on to play a more expansive game. There were two late chances for teenage substitute Ryan Sugden, but on both occasions he was denied by the alertness of Perez. 

Oldham’s first threat came after nine minutes when a superbly angled cross from Sheridan found Whitehall in the box, but he failed to make any connection. Cambridge kept up the pressure with their willing running, and in the 15th minute keeper Kelly had to be alert to cut out a far post cross. The visitors, unbeaten in five previous away games - three wins and two draws, a run which has enabled them to climb out of the bottom four, were making the Latics work hard all the way. Jones was forced to make a telling tackle inside the box in the 24th minute and seconds later Kelly clutched a Lamey header. Boss Andy Ritchie had warned this wasn’t going to be easy against a side with their backs to the wall and, so far, his pre-match assessment was spot on. His side got their first shot on target in the 28th minute when top scorer Allott’s low volley was comfortably saved. Oldham again made a lacklustre start to the second half in a game which had rarely risen above the mediocre. And the defence had to show their mettle as Cambridge were allowed far too much room to run at them.

The game was crying out for a player with authority who could take it by the scruff of the neck. There were too many niggling battles and not enough thought and guile. But Oldham came close to breaking the deadlock in the 57th minute. McNiven whipped a fierce cross along the face of goal, but Wanless stuck out a boot to deflect his effort for a corner which came to nothing. Oldham finally managed to break down the Cambridge defence to take the lead on 75 minutes. A Sheridan cross squeezed between a slow-moving cover and defender ANDREW HOLT nipped in to slide the ball home.

The incident happened in injury time of a 3-3 thriller and referee Rob Harris held up play for several minutes.

Peter Thorne netted a hat-trick for City, putting them in front after 10 minutes and notching the equaliser five minutes from the end.

Robbie Pethick levelled for Rovers, Jamie Cureton put them in front from the penalty spot after 32 minutes before Thorne made it 2-2 after 62 minutes.

Mark Walters gave Rovers the lead seven minutes later before Thorne struck again and trouble erupted as the fans thought Ward was wasting time.

Preston stayed five points in front but Wigan leapfrog Rovers into second place with goals from Neil Redfearn, his third in two games, and an own goal from Darren Powell bringing a 2-0 win at Brentford, Wigan's fourth win in succession.

Millwall could only manage a 1-1 draw at Notts County, Neil Harris's 18th of the season putting them in front after 13 minutes only for Duane Darby to level just past the hour, while Burnley stayed on course with a 2-1 win at Cardiff.

Steve Davis gave the Clarets the lead after 21 minutes and Andy Payton's 24th of the season doubled the advantage before an Ian Cox own goal threw the Welshmen a lifeline they failed to grasp despite playing against 10 men when Burnley's Colin Little was sent off for serious foul play after 73 minutes.

Gillingham kept in the play-off group, thanks to Steve Butler's 75th-minute winner against doomed Chesterfield while Oxford climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, Derek Lilley grabbing the points with his 34th minute marker.

The Cambridge mini-revival came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Oldham with Andrew Holt getting the crucial goal in the 75th minute.

Things are looking grim for Scunthorpe, whacked 3-0 at Bury, with Dean Crowe, on loan from Stoke, player-manager Andy Preece and Paul Barnes the scorers while Reading's 1-0 win at Wrexham, Martin Butler the scorer, lifts them away from the deep end.

Bristol City made it four without defeat with a 2-1 win at Wycombe, Tony Thorpe's 11th of the season putting them in front, Sean Devine almost inevitably equalising before Damien Spencer grabbed the winner after 66 minutes.

Luton overcame Colchester 3-2 despite falling behind after Julian Watts opened the scoring for the Hatters. Steve McGavin and Tony Lock gave the struggling Essex side the lead before Gary Doherty and Matthew Taylor struck back.