Oldham 1-7 Cardiff

Leo Fortune-West struck twice for Cardiff

E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Oldham's play-off hopes took a battering as they crashed to a 7-1 defeat against a rampant Cardiff City side at Boundary Park.

It was a nightmare return to Boundary Par for former Scotland international Andy Goram.

The goalkeeper, who played for Oldham from 1981 to 1987, has been brought in by boss Mick Wadsworth to resolve a goalkeeping crisis following injuries to Gary Kelly and David Miskelly.

But he was beaten seven times as Cardiff gave the other Division Two promotion hopefuls a clear warning of their intention to succeed.

Scott Young put the Bluebirds ahead early on and Leo Fortune-West and Peter Thorne gave the visitors a three-goal cushion with only 23 minutes on the clock.

Striker Andy Campbell hit the fourth on the half-hour mark and Oldham's problems deepened when Matty Appleby was sent off.

Fortune-West hit his second goal on the stroke of half-time and Campbell completed his hat-trick with strikes in the 64th and 73rd minutes.

Stuart Balmer pulled a consolation goal back with 16 minutes left but it was not enough to spare Oldham's blushes.

---

Oldham: Goram, Clegg, Balmer, Baudet, Armstrong, Appleby, Colusso (Carss 34), Murray, Eyres (Darren Sheridan 83), Corazzin, Smart (Duxbury 45). Subs Not Used: Holden, Miskelly.

Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Young, Prior, Legg, Gabbidon (Simpkins 76), Boland, Kavanagh (Collins 66), Campbell (Jones 75), Fortune-West, Thorne. Subs Not Used: Walton, Hughes.

Referee: C Webster (Shotley Bridge, Co Durham).