A depleted Oldham side, that have lost their last six games, suffer a further blow as Dean Holden goes down injured early on. But he is okay to continue. Very little to report in the opening five minutes. But then Lita SCORES knocking home from a tight angle from a Mickey Bell cross.
1-0 (Leroy Lita 8 mins)
Chris Killen has a shot from 18 yards just wide and follows it up with another couple of efforts that Phillips saves comfortably. But City look a bit sloppy in defence of their early lead. Brookers shot is deflected agonisingly wide with Mildenhall stranded. The keeper only half punches the corner clear to Dinning whose shot is also deflected wide.
Tranmere are a goal up at home to Huddersfield and Doncaster lead Barnsley. As things stand City are back in the play off places.
Kevin Betsy replaces the injured Dean Holden. Mickey Bell curls a free kick which Mildenhall has to tip over and the resultant corner is headed wide. Brooker then heads another free kick wide as City continue to dominate. Brooker heads down to Lita on the edge of the area, he controls well and SCORES with a blistering effort into the bottom corner.
2-0 (Leroy Lita 23 mins)
Bournemouth have taken the lead against Torquay. Yeovil lead promotion rivals Scunthorpe. The GAS are a GOAL DOWN at Kidderminster as the evening continues to be a good one. Tranmere and Doncaster are both two up. Yeovil are now 2-1 down.
Steve Brooker has a 20 yard shot blocked. Danny Coles clears well from a Neil Kilkenny cross. Dave Cotterill has a jinking run stopped at the expense of a corner to City. Oldham have a good chance to score through Chris Killen but Mickey Bell clears his header off the line for an Oldham corner. A mistake by Cotterill leads to Hughes having a shot saved by Steve Phillips.
Steve Phillips saves an awkwardly bouncing shot from Kilkenny and then claims the resulting corner. City continue to invite a bit of pressure as half time approaches. Cooper sees his shot go wide from 18 yards. But then a long cross from Mickey Bell is poorly played by Branston into the path of Luke Wilkshire who SCORES easily past a stranded Mildenhall.
3-0 (Luke Wilkshire 45 mins)
A few scares but Wilkshires goal in addition to Litas Brace sees City sitting pretty at half time.
HT 3-0
Brentford have taken the lead at Hartlepool. Bournemouth are two up against Torquay. Bradford are a goal down at Blackpool. Yeovil have equalised against Scunthorpe.
Jamie Smith plays a dangerous ball across the six yard box but Lita can't connect and it goes for a goal kick. Another good run by young Dave Cotterill and his cross is met by Steve Brooker who SCORES.
4-0 (Steve Brooker 52 mins)
Mark Hughes is booked for dissent following a foul on Scott Brown. Kenny Cooper is replaced by Wes Wilkinson. A corner is not cleared by Steve Phillips who appears to have been impeded but Will Haining scores with a header into the top corner for Oldham.
4-1 (Will Haining 57 mins)
Phillips saves well from Kilkenny. Hartlepool have equalised against Brentford. The Gas have equalised at Kidderminster. Milton Keynes Dons are one up against Hull. Bradford have equalised at Blackpool.
Kevin Betsy is booked for a foul on Luke Wilkshire. Lita fires over when played in by Brooker. A shot from Brooker is saved by Mildenhall and from the corner Dinnings shot is also saved. Steve Brooker is replaced by Paul Heffernan. Scott Brown heads wide from a Mickey Bell cross.
Hartlepool now lead Brentford. Doncaster are 3-0 up. Luton still goalless at home to Walsall. Bournemouth are three up against Torquay. Yeovil have retaken the lead in a pulsating game against Scunthorpe, they lead 3-2.
Paul Heffernan heads a Dave Cotterill cross over the bar. Luke Wilkshire is replaced by Scott Murray. Phillips has to save well from Wes Wilkinson as Oldham break three against two. Bradley Orr comes on for Dave Cotterill who leaves to a standing ovation. Davis Eyres shoots just wide. Stefan Stam comes on for David Eyres. Scott Brown does well on the left and curls a cross which Guy Branston deflects into his own net.
5-1 (Guy Branston o.g. 87 mins)
A mix up in an erratic defence is not punished by Lita as Mildenhall just manages to claim the ball. Wes Wilkinson misses another chance at the other end. Three minutes of added time to be played.
Hartlepool now 3-1 up at home to Brentford and Doncaster have a 4th. Luton have another late winner at home to Walsall. Hull have a late equaliser and Tranmere get a 3rd. Late goals also at Yeovil where they run out 4-3 winners. The Gas can only draw with seemingly doomed Kidderminster. Blackpool get a late late winner against Bradford.
Wilkinson nearly clears the Atyeo Stand with a shot. An Oldham corner is taken but the final whistle goes before a shot on goal is fired.
FT 5-1
A comprehensive City victory and only their second home victory of 2005. The goal difference may be all important as we scrap for that elusive 6th place. Two more for Lita and one each for Brooker and Wilkshire in a happy night at the Gate.
Att: 9,007
Teams
Bristol City
S Phillips, J Smith, L Carey, D Coles, M Bell, D Cotterill, T Dinning, S Brown, L Wilkshire, L Lita, S Brooker
Subs: S Murray, P Heffernan, B Orr, J Anyinsah, S Golbourne
Oldham
S Mildenhall, A Bruce, W Haining, G Branston, A Griffin, D Holden, M Hughes, N Kilkenny, D Eyres, K Cooper, C Killen
Subs: L Pogliacomi, M Bonner, S Stam, W Wilkinson, K Betsy
Ref: A Penn
