Two goals from Aaron Stafford and one from Shaun Gardner gave AFC Liverpool victory over Oldham Boro.

With the Reds’ defence largely untroubled by the home side, they never looked like losing the match after Stafford had given them the lead midway through the first half. Picking the ball up on the right touchline, he powered his way into the area before poking the ball past Daniel Pearson.
That had been the first effort on target in the match in a rather tepid opening period. Steve Corris, Darren Torpey and Paul Lindfield had all tried their luck from distance but had been way off target whilst at the other end Michael Christopher could have been mistaken for a spectator.
The Reds though only came close to doubling their tally on one further occasion before the break when a lovely ball by John Kennedy from the halfway line picked out Gardner in the area. However Pearson was quick off his line to close down the space and the Reds’ striker’s effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Stafford grabbed his and AFC Liverpool’s second goal of the game two minutes into the second half  when some good work down the left by Lindfield presented him with the opportunity to side foot past Pearson.
Stafford should have completed his hat-trick though when he was gifted a chance after Pearson threw the ball to him but the Oldham keeper atoned for his error and Gardner blasted high when following up. Another chance for a third goal went begging for Stafford when he headed over unchallenged from six yards meeting a Kennedy cross.
In between, the home side had their best effort of the evening as Damien Schofield rifled a shot that flew past the upright but the points were secured for the Reds on seventy nine minutes when Joe Gibbons’ measured pass found Gardner in space in the area and the striker calmly slotted the ball past Pearson.
James Thomas came close to adding a fourth in injury time but his direct free kick from the edge of the area whistled past the woodwork. It was a result, coupled with Holker Old Boy’s defeat to AFC Blackpool, that puts the Reds in strong contention for a third placed finish.

Oldham Boro 0-3 AFC Liverpool
Stafford 28′ 47′
Gardner 79′

Attendance: 58