Happy Easter to everyone, here are the latest match reports from the D3D4 correspondents. We hope you enjoy them as always.

MATCH REPORT: Wigan Athletic 3-0 Oldham Athletic

Wigan proved their credentials as title contesters today as they eased passed a weak Oldham side that showed a real lack of motivation in their fight for league 1 safety.

1700 Oldham fans made the 45-minute trip to the DW Stadium – a bold move by them following a woeful performance against Portsmouth last week. Sadly, their loyalty wasn’t to be rewarded and it didn’t take long for them to realise that little had changed – just 6 minutes into the game Nick Powell was allowed to glide past the Oldham defence and had his effort well saved by Placide, who really needed to prove his worth after a calamitous error cost the side last week.

There were some early chances for Oldham, with both Davies and Doyle working the keeper. It was clear, however, that the home side was in control – Will Grigg working his way around the defence on a number of occasions. Oldham haven’t exactly been renowned for their defensive abilities and with Anthony Gerrard out injured, it was clear there was a lack of organisation; Brian Wilson and Rob Hunt particularly struggled in the first half as Nick Powell cut in time and time again from the left wing. It was clear that the home side had bundles of attacking ability but they struggled to make it count – they nearly regretted their missed chances when Eoin Doyle got the other side of the Wigan defence after 36 minutes. Fortunately for them, his limp shot was easily saved by Walton – the Irish striker looked a shadow of his former goal-scoring self, clearly still struggling for match sharpness following his time on the side-lines with a blood clot. Wigan were quick to respond to this attack and forced Placide into a number of good saves and in the 40^th minute Oldham gave Will Grigg a sight at goal. Will Grigg did what Will Grigg does so well and punished them for this lapse in concentration – Nick Powell found the striker rushing in at goal, who managed to prod the ball underneath Placide and into the goal.

HALF TIME: Wigan Athletic (Grigg 40’) 1-0 Oldham Athletic

Oldham fans turned to each other in slight optimism when they saw that Will Grigg had been replaced at half time but his replacement, James Vaughan, was quick in making an impact when capitalised on what can only be described as a moment of madness from Kean Bryan. The young centre half played the ball back to his goalkeeper but, to the crowd’s amazement, he had failed to notice Vaughan’s presence in front of Placide – the striker’s eyes lit up and he easily slotted past the keeper. Perplexed Oldham fans looked around at one another, no one understood what had just unfurled in front of their eyes and Kean Bryan must have been hoping that the ground would open up and engulf him to save him from the inevitable full-time post mortem. Oldham fans did not feel optimistic at this point, their team was sinking without a fight.

The introduction of Patrick McEleney in the 56^th minutes brought a much-needed flair to the Oldham side, giving Doyle a good chance to grab a goal back, but the Wigan defence was well organised and blocked his effort. As Oldham began to fight back into their game, Wigan hit back to remind them who was in charge as Nick Powell cut inside from the left wing (again) and, with a drop his shoulder, carved open the visitors’ defence and calmly curled the ball into the bottom right hand corner. 24 minutes remained but Oldham fans had seen enough – there was an exodus of Oldham fans as the home crowd chanted ‘we can see you sneaking out’. The remaining time left of the match was simply an exhibition for Wigan, who played the ball between themselves to no challenge. Oldham didn’t have the energy or the will to fight for their pride or, more vitally, their goal difference.

Thank you to the 1,735 #oafc supporters who made the trip today. Don’t forget we’re back in action at Boundary Park on Easter Monday. 👏💙 pic.twitter.com/79eztmCt5f

— Oldham Athletic AFC (@OfficialOAFC) March 30, 2018

The match finished 3-0 and that really was a kind result to Oldham. Wigan showed why they should be playing Championship football and Oldham showed quality seen only in the lowest echelons of English football, just without the spirit. Oldham really do need to look carefully at themselves, and quickly, or they will be relegated – Richie Wellens has some tough decisions to make going into the match against Blackpool on Monday, which really is a must win game.

FULL TIME: Wigan Athletic (Grigg 40’, Vaughan 49’, Powell 66’) 3-0 Oldham Athletic

Wigan Athletic: Walton, Byrne, Elder, Morsy, Power, Grigg (Vaughan 46’), Jacobs, Dunkley, Powell (Roberts 82’), Colclough (Massey 63’), Burn.

Subs not used: Jones, Perkins, Cole, Bruce.

Oldham Athletic: Placide, Hunt, Wilson, Bryan, Moimbe, Fane, Gardner, Pringle (McEleney 56’), Byrne (McLaughlin 71’), Davies (Holloway 64’), Doyle.

Subs not used: De La Paz, Edmundson, Benyu, Nazon.

Attendance: 10,625 (1,735 visiting supporters)

words Chris Stringer, D3D4 Oldham Athletic correspondent

MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 1-1 Morecambe

Duck Ends At Robins.

Right – let’s start with a poser; Classic Pub Quiz or Starter For Ten if you prefer. How many teams beginning with `S’ have played in the English Premiership? Let’s start with the three that are still plying their trade there (if only just): Southampton; Stoke and Swansea Cities. Then there are the Sheffield Clubs. And Sunderland, currently seemingly trying to emulate other North-Eastern clubs such a Ashington; Darlington and – most recently – Hartlepool and abandon the EFL altogether. Who else?

Have To Hurry You as Bamber used to say before a far more boorish individual took his place on University Challenge. Time’s up.

It was Swindon Town, almost a quarter of a century ago. Next question: which ex-Premiership Managers whose surname begins with `B’ have… No, that’s enough.

Swindon have had a chequered history in the last twenty-five years or so. Most of it has been bad. At times, they looked as if potential Messiahs such as Paolo di Canio were about to lead them back to the Promised Land of elite football in this country. But then Sunderland came along and worked its Black Cat Magic on him – and we all know how that ended-up. But since that time, they have slipped back into the lowest division of League Football once more. Continuity has hardly been Town’s strongest suit: their latest boss, Phil Brown (ex-Premiership Manager; name begins with `B’), has been employed at the County Ground for only just over two weeks. This time last year, Luke Williams was in charge. During the summer, David Flitcroft was appointed by the Robins’ board. Under the former Bury Manager, Town carried on their impeccable record against the Shrimps last August, racking-up their fourth win out of four against the Lancashire club. But statistics and omens count for nothing. As Southend Manager, Brown had an equally bad League record against today’s visitors – so what was about to happen in Wiltshire today was truly in the lap of the gods.

The weather gods didn’t smile upon this contest before and during the game: it tipped it down at times. Neither did the gods seem to smiling on Jim Bentley’s team early on. Veteran goalkeeper Barry Roche lasted only ten minutes before he had to be replaced by Australian Under 21 International Danijel Nizic. The game itself was end to end at the start. Luke Norris thumped an effort just wide after about five minutes but Town’s defence were stretched after thirteen minutes by a dangerous shot by Michael Rose from a free-kick. An excellent cross from the Morecambe left by Luke Conlan was headed virtually straight at Stuart Moore in the home goal by Callum Lang with 26 minutes on the clock. Then, as the rain came lashing down, the Robins started peppering substitute Niizic with a succession of crosses but the goalkeeper and his defence stood firm and kept them out. The focal point of the first period arrived after 43 minutes when Vadaine Oliver helped Wigan loanee Lang to spring the Swindon offside trap and coolly take-on and beat Moore to slip the ball into the home net. Right from kick-off, Town almost got straight back into the game. They won a corner; Ollie Banks produced a tremendous header from it but young Nizic miraculously managed to keep it out of his net.

The game continued fairly evenly once the second period got under way. Although the home team didn’t seem to appeal for anything, Referee Kevin Johnson clearly took exception to something he had spotted in the area apparently involving Steven Old and Norris. This was after fifty-five minutes as Swindon were taking a free-kick and the official pointed to the spot. Norris dusted himself down and sent Nizic the wrong way from the resulting penalty and the teams found themselves all-square once again.

The goal seemed to revitalise Mr Brown’s new boys. It was almost one-way traffic from the moment they equalised. Old cleared a header off the Morecambe goal line; Norris shot straight at the Morecambe goalkeeper when well placed and Keshi Anderson headed just wide all in quick succession. Up at the other end, though, Lang had a header at the far post after an hour but directed it straight at Moore, who saved easily. Swindon maintained the pressure with a succession of corners after this but Morecambe again showed the organisation and determination which was missing from the team earlier in the season by resolutely holding back the red tide despite Marc Richards missing an absolute sitter from only a few yards out with about twenty minutes left.

Morecambe’s battling performance earned them their third draw in a row and kept them in nineteenth position in the division. It also ended their duck as far as Town are concerned. Swindon also stayed in the same place they were before the game, ten places higher. With games now beginning to run out, Morecambe remain nine points ahead of Barnet, who beat Crewe at the Hive today to keep Dave Artell’s side within striking distance of the Shrimps: the Railwaymen are only one point ahead of them but Morecambe still have a game in hand. Chesterfield lost again to the club immediately below the Shrimps: Port Vale. Grimsby managed a draw and Forest Green’s game at Yeovil was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. So Morecambe remain eight points clear of the trapdoor into the National League with it looking increasingly as if the condemned teams at the end of the season will be two from Barnet, Chesterfield and Grimsby.

Swindon Town: 28 Stuart Moore; 24 Kyle Knoyle; 2 Ben Purkiss; 32 Rollin Menayese; 3 Chris Hussey (Y) (22 Kaiyne Woolery 80 mins); 30 Keshi Anderson (18 Donal McDermott 85 mins); 8 James Dunne; 29 Ollie Banks; 31 Matty Taylor; 9 Luke Norris; 17 Marc Richards (C) (7 Paul Mullin 80 mins).

Subs not used: 12 Charlie Henry; 5 Chris Robertson; 20 Kellan Gordon; 19 Timi Elsnik.

Morecambe:  1 Barry Roche (12 Danijel Nizic 10 mins); 6 Dean Winnard; 2 Aaron McGowan (15 Aaron Wildig 70 mins); 16 Sam Lavelle; 4 Alex Kenyon; 5 Steven Old; 29 Callum Lang (11 Kevin Ellison 78 mins); 14 Luke Conlan; 21 Gregg Wylde; 24 Michael Rose (C); 9 Vadaine Oliver.

Subs not used: 3 Patrick Brough; 8 Andy Fleming; 10 Adam Campbell; 7 Garry Thompson.

Ref: Kevin Johnson.

6328 (82 from Morecambe)

words Roger Fitton, D3D4 Morecambe correspondent

MATCH REPORT: Rotherham United 1-1 Peterborough United

A very healthy 9,573 crowd including 1,240 Posh fans greeted the teams as the Millers faced Posh on a cool cloudy Good Friday afternoon at New York Stadium.

After a cagey opening few minutes a good move involving Rotherham’s Matt Palmer & Michael Smith put winger Anthony Forde clean through on goal but Posh keeper Conor O’Malley brilliantly saved his effort. Undeterred the Millers continued to press & Loanee Richie Towell shot from distance millimetres over the bar.

Posh top scorer Jack Marriott then had a good shout for a penalty turned down when he appeared to be bundled over by Millers centre back Semi Ajayi. Back came Rotherham & Posh keeper O’Malley had to be alert to keep out an effort from Millers full back Joe Mattock then Ajayi headed just over the bar from a corner.

Back came Posh & the excellent Jack Marriott was denied the opening goal by the legs of Millers keeper Marek Rodak following good work by Maddison. A pulsating 45 minutes where the only surprise was the 0-0 scoreline.

HT Millers 0 Posh 0

A poor Forde effort that almost went out for a corner was the first effort of the second period but the intensity went up a notch again when Millers substitute Caolan Lavery who had replaced the ineffective David Ball poked an effort wide from around 6 yards. Posh’s centre back Tafazolli was booked for an awful challenge on Palmer before a Joe Newell corner wasn’t properly cleared & Lavery made amends for his earlier miss by firing past O’Malley to give the Millers the lead on 68 minutes. Rotherham were bossing the game at this stage & O’Malley again excelled himself with a fine stop from a bullet header from Smith to keep it at 1-0.

A rare Posh break saw Marriott produce a piece of skill that left two Millers players on their backsides before hitting a dipping 25 yard effort that Rodak saved well. Smith the sent a looping drive just over but the killer second Millers goal still wouldn’t come.

Six second half substitutions & a couple of injury breaks saw the fourth official put six minutes added time to be played & during this time Millers midfielder Towell had to go off. Rotherham were defending deep trying to see out the added time but in the EIGHTH minute of time added Posh substitute Junior Morais sent over a low cross & Marriott did what he does best, ghosting in & firing home.

FT Millers 1 Posh 1

THE best match I have been to this season. Two good teams playing good football, creating chances & going for it in front of a large appreciative crowd.

words Ian Bradley, D3D4 Rotherham United correspondent

MATCH REPORT: Oxford United 1-1 Scunthorpe United

Oxford United were in front of the Sky cameras for the second time in a week as Scunthorpe visited the Kassam Stadium for the Good Friday fixture. Having sacked Graham Alexander following the 1-1 draw with Rochdale the previous week the Iron were looking to Nick Daws to lead them while the chairman searches for a new manager.

Oxford started like a wet firework and just didn’t get going with the visitors looking dangerous every time they came forward, showing why they were in the play-off positions. It was clear that the Scunthorpe players wanted to impress the new interim boss and they penned Oxford back with some good passing play with the full-backs overlapping down both sides.

Hakeeb Adelakun was looking particularly dangerous and it was from his cross that the Iron took a deserved lead. He was found in space on the wing and then swung a ball low into the danger area. Simon Eastwood looked to have held it but it slipped from his grasp allowing Ivan Toney to slide the ball in at the near post.

The goal looked to give Scunthorpe confidence, a trait they have lacked in recent matches and they proceeded to create a number of good chances. First Adelakun volleyed over and then Josh Morris forced Eastwood into a good stop.

It was one way traffic and Toney hit the post before a huge moment of controversy swayed the outcome of the game. From a corner James Henry blocked a goal bound effort on the goal line with his arm. The referee completely missed it much to the dismay of the Scunthorpe players and fans but little could they realise that worse was to come.

HT Oxford 0-1 Scunthorpe

Oxford were more resilient in the second half and the introduction of Jonathan Obika ten minutes after the break changed the game. His physical presence seemed to unsettle the Scunthorpe centre backs and Oxford began to hold onto possession for longer spells.

Obika was soon in the thick of the action and moments after coming on the big forward wriggled past two defender before going down in the area. It was clear that he hadn’t been touch but neither was it a dive. The truth is that he just slipped over and the referee pointed to the spot. Awful decision and very harsh on the Iron who should have been 2-0 up and playing against 10 men but instead found the game level as Henry slotted home the spot kick.

If they miss out on a play-off spot by just one or two points at the end of the season then this game will reflect very badly on the quality of officials in the third tier.

Adelakun rattled the bar as Scunthorpe looked the more likely to win it in the closing stages but overall this will be one game that Oxford will be relieved to see the back of. A very lucky escape indeed

words James Richards, D3D4 Football