Notts County 1-0 Oldham AFC

After snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat against Sheffield United the previous Saturday, Notts put in a dominant, lively display to outplay and defeat Oldham Athletic for their first win at Meadow Lane since November, courtesy of Enoch Showunmi's first league goal for the club. Just like the previous weekend, the snow and frosty weather meant the hard work had to begin well before the game, as club staff and supporters helped to clear the snow off the pitch to ensure Notts didn't suffer another postponement.

Once the game was officially on, Notts lined up in the 3-4-1-2 formation used against the Blades, making only one change - Showunmi replacing Francois Zoko, suspended after the weekend's fixture.

The home team dominated from the off, an Alan Sheehan free kick causing problems early on with Showunmi unable to convert with his back to goal, while a Bialkowski kick was helped on by the frontman and saw Jeff Hughes fire straight at Oldham keeper Dean Bouzaris. Then came the first real chance of the game - an Alan Judge free kick which whistled past the top-left corner, Bouzaris stranded.

More chances were to come, Andre Boucaud playing a Xavi-esque pass to the Irish Messi, who rounded the keeper but only fired into the side netting, before Yoann Arquin headed wide and shortly afterwards saw a powerful shot also just miss.

Before long, the pendulum swung Oldham's way, with forward Jose Baxter firing straight at Bialkowski. The away team then saw Matt Smith fire a volley which was denied by skipper Neal Bishop's outstanding block.

Boucaud, now a permanent Notts County player, repaid the faith put in him by the club with another wonderful through-ball straight to JCR, who cut inside and took a shot. The ensuing deflection fell nicely into the path of Showunmi and was tapped in for the opening goal.

Invigorated by taking the lead, the half finished with Notts playing some classy football, stringing passes together and showing moves off to the delight of the home fans, Jeff Hughes nearly making it 2-0 late on in the half.

Oldham, lucky only to be 1-0 down at half time, pressed on, and nearly made Notts pay for their missed chances, Jonathan Grounds missing with his powerful header, before midfielder Chris Sutherland headed towards an empty net, having beaten Bialkowski, only for Gary Liddle to majestically clear it off the goal-line.

The Latics, frustrated by their inability to breach the Notts defence, found themselves getting increasingly physical, and got several late tackles in before the ref decided he'd seen enough and got his card out, booking Grounds and James Welosowski in quick succession.

Notts' chances kept on coming, Showunmi nearly connecting with a JCR cross, before Hughes flashed a header across goal after a Sheehan free kick, Matt Smith preventing the chance from falling to Bishop for what would have been a certain goal.

The Irish Messi then saw his attempt just miss the right-hand upright after a mistake by Wesolowski seventy-eight minutes in, before Showunmi fired just over a minute later.

In the dying stages, Oldham kept pressing, but never really bothered Bialkowski, substitute Robbie Simpson attempting a couple of long-range shots and Jose Baxter not doing much better, before Notts saw out the final five minutes and confirmed the 3 points, much to the delight of the 3,229 home supporters who were finally able to celebrate a win at Meadow Lane since November.