Walsall 1-2 Oldham - report: Saddlers drop to third with last-gasp defeat

Joe Garner opened the scoring for Oldham when he climbed highest to head Ryan Woods' corner past Myles Roberts in the 15th-minute. 

Daniel Kanu levelled with his 12th goal of the season in all competitions when he unleashed a thunderous shot beyond Matt Hudson at his near post from an acute angle. 

Courtney Clarke hit the woodwork twice, both directly from corners, but Kian Harratt headed into the far corner in the final seconds to condemn Walsall to defeat.

Walsall dropped to third, as Bromley finish the year at the League Two summit and Swindon Town move into second with wins over Crawley and Cheltenham respectively.

Mat Sadler made two changes to the team which started the Saddlers' 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day. 

Priestley Farquharson and Courtney Clarke were recalled at the expense of Rico Browne and Jamie Jellis, who both dropped to the bench. 

Oldham were without leading marksman Michael Mellon, but Garner shouldered the goal scoring burden by opening the scoring on the quarter-hour mark. 

Woods lifted an inviting corner into the centre of the penalty area and Garner towered above his marker to nod into the roof of the net. 

Walsall had come close as early as the first minute when Hudson plunged to his left to deny Evan Weir's low effort on the half-volley. 

But that would not set the tone for a dominant start and Walsall almost fell behind even earlier when Brandon Comley tripped on the ball. 

Latics midfielder Kai Payne pickpocketed him just outside his own box, but Roberts emerged to bravely foil him at his feet. 

A similar theme would unfold throughout a sloppy and shaky first half display from Walsall and they showed little sign of recovery after falling behind.

Every attack seemed to breakdown before it materialised into a serious threat and Oldham set-up to pick them off on the counter-attack. 

Farquharson was forced off 10 minutes before the interval after sustaining an eye injury from a bloody clash of heads with goal scorer Garner.

A moment of magic from Kanu got Walsall back on level terms just five minutes after the restart, as he moved on to double figures for goals in League Two. 

Jamille Matt slotted the ball into his path and Kanu powered a sensational strike beyond Hudson at his near post from the tightest of angles.

Clarke came within a whisker of scoring directly from a corner when his curling delivery spun over Hudson and off the top of his crossbar.

Kane Drummond went down under a challenge from Roberts after breaking through on goal and Reagan Ogle headed over from the resulting corner.

Aaron Pressley was introduced midway into the second period and Sadler shuffled his pack again when Jid Okeke, Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah entered the action for the closing stages.

Clarke hit the woodwork once again when yet another in-swinging corner troubled Hudson who just managed to claw the ball on to the post.

Roberts denied Harratt one-on-one in the dying stages, but the Oldham substitute would not be denied in the last kick of the game when he headed in the winner from Woods' corner.

Next, Walsall travel to the Abbey Stadium to face Cambridge United on New Year's Day.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Farquharson (Browne, 35), Flint, Weir; Comley; Barrett (Okeke 77), Finnigan (Lakin 77), Clarke, Harper; Matt (Pressley 65), Kanu (Adomah 77).

Not used: Hornby, Jellis.

Oldham (5-3-2): Hudson; Caprice, Ogle, Daniels, Monthe, Robson; Pett, Woods, Payne; Garner (Quigley 58), Drummond (Harratt 83). 

Not used: Donaghy, Sutton, Morris, Hammond.

Other details 

Referee: Oliver Mackey

Attendance: 6,704 (836)