THE Reserves' long unbeaten run, which stretched back to last October, was blown apart in spectacular style by an Oldham Athletic side that turned the screw late in the game.
French trialist Julian Cherel headed home in the first half, then after the break further goals from Andy Crompton, Rob McDonald and Jon Worthington ensured an emphatic victory for the Latics.
Wrexham got in the first chance when a long-range effort from first year scholar Jamie Morton was only inches off target as the home side put early pressure on the visitors.
There was a booking for Oldham's Deane Smalley, when he brought down Jamie Morton with a crunching challenge. Then two minutes later the Wrexham man got his own back and earned himself a caution for his troubles.
Having already seen a Joe Jacobsen free kick come back off the crossbar, the Latics forced a breakthrough on 34 minutes when French trialist Julian Cherel headed home from a corner giving Danny Ward no chance from eight yards.
Four minutes later and Oldham somehow missed a great double chance, when Smalley scuffed his effort and it came off the legs of Ward. It only ran into the path of winger Jacobson, yet with the goal at his mercy and the keeper grounded, he could only manage to fire wide!
A ball over the top for Andy Mangan to chase, he was in the Oldham box and preparing to shoot when Cherel eased him out of his stride before clearing the danger.
Then into added time, Athletic's Rod McDonald lashed a shot across the face of the Wrexham goal, but it whistled passed the far post.
Dean Saunders made two changes at the break, with Louis Moss & James Colbeck coming on for Mangan & Brown, while Oldham introduced Connor Hughes for Joe Jacobson.
On 55 minutes, Smalley came in off the wing at a tight angle, but Ward palmed away the striker's effort.
Declan Walker then made a surging run down the right flank and his cross into the nearer post was aimed at Wes Baynes, but a defender's foot denied him the chance of drawing us level.
Wrexham were lifting the pace and a good run by Jamie Tolley saw the former Shrewsbury midfielder fire in a shot on the run, but just wide of the left hand post.
Then Oldham grabbed a second on 70 minutes, when substitute Andrew Crompton finished with a low shot into an empty net.
Thr Latics weren't finished though, as five minutes later a corner from Hughes was only knocked back into the middle and Rod McDonald , son of former Walsall made no mistake with a rasping drive from 12-yards.
On came substiute Brian Summerskill in a straight swap for midfielder Jamie Tolley.
It was to no avail though, as on 81 minutes the Latics scored their fourth of the evening as former Huddersfield Town midfielder Jon Worthington hit a curling effort round the Wrexham keeper, a fitting reward reward for all his hard effort in the middle of the park.
The Reds did have the ball in the back of the Oldham net shortly afterwards, but it was disallowed for offside!
In the end a fair result on the night, as the Latics were always the more lively and likely to score - just a shame our 13 game unbeaten run had to come to an end.
Wrexham: Danny Ward, Declan Walker. Johnny Hunt, Max Penk, Jack Deaman, Jamie Tolley (Brian Summerskill 77), Jamie Morton, David Brown (James Colbeck 46), Liam Shipton, Andy Mangan (Louis Moss 46), Wes Baynes.
Subs: Lee Roberts.
Oldham: Josh Ollerenshaw, Kelvin Lomax, Rod McDonald, Jon Worthington, Julian Cherel, Sean Gregan, Paris Hall, Andy Holdsworth, Deane Smalley, Djeny Bembo-Leta (Andrew Crompton 24), Joe Jacobson (Connor Hughes 46).
Subs: Sean Highdale, Shaun Routledge, Matt D Carr.
Referee: Darren Handley
Attendance: 100
Bookings -
Wrexham: Morton (16, foul)
Oldham: Smalley (14, foul)
