Crewe Alexandra couldn't sustain an encouraging first-half performance as the clinical finishing of Oldham's strike pairing of Lee Hughes and Darren Byfield proved to be the difference on this Boxing Day fixture. Crewe had more than held their own in a fairly even first half but were eventually undone in the second period as Hughes helped himself to a brace after Byfield had fired the visitors in front after 57 minutes following a slip from O'Donnell.

In what was to be his last home match in charge of the club, the caretaker boss Dario Gradi was forced into a change after James Bailey was ruled out with food poisoning. Mark Carrington, who has trained well recently was drafted in ahead of Ben Rix and youngster Luke Murphy. The other change saw Byron Moore recalled for Colin Daniel and he partnered Shaun Miller up front.

Daniel probably played more of the game he would have anticipated after Danny Woodards was forced off through injury. It appeared the full-back had gone over on his ankle and Daniel was called upon to play in an unfamiliar left-back position.

Following the festive period the contest needed some time to burst into life. Byfield dragged an early effort well wide of the target and a looping header from Hughes nearly caught Stuart Tomlinson but the Alex keeper anticipated it and tipped over for a corner.

For Crewe, Joel Grant and Miller were lively in the first half and they combined well after 20 minutes, but Grant's dangerous looking cross was intercepted by the diving Oldham keeper Greg Fleming.

Five minutes later Moore had a shot blocked from the edge of the penalty area but in the follow up, Michael O'Connor dragged his shot woefully wide of the target.

Oldham really should have taken the lead just before the half an hour mark. A mix up in the Alex defence, saw midfielder Mark Carrington flick possession backwards and past his own centre-backs, thus allowing Hughes a clear run on Tomlinson's goal. You would have backed Hughes to have scored in such a one-on-one situation but uncharacteristically he failed to hit the target. He side-footed a yard or so wide of Tomlinson's post and it was one almighty left off for the Alex and especially Carrington, who mustn't have received a shout as he tried to head clear.

The visitors began to impose themselves on the game and both Byfield and winger Chris Taylor had shots blocked before on the third attempt, Byfield shot wastefully wide of the target.

The lively Byfield also forced Tomlinson into a smart save after acrobatically getting another shot on target.

As the half wore on though, Crewe became more of a threat on the break. A superb run from Moore allowed Miller to get a powerful shot off which was blocked by the impressive Rueben Hazell.

Moments later a superb surging run from 'full-back' Daniel saw him take on Neal Eardley and head for the by-line before his low cross was turned in against the post through a combination of Eugen Bopp and the covering Oldham defender Stefan Stam. The intervention from Stam would force him off with an injury, and the vastly experienced Sean Gregan replaced him.

Crewe were finishing the first half strongly, but in fairness a 0-0 scoreline was a fair reflection because although both sides enjoyed good periods of possession, it was certainly defences on top.

The second period, which would eventually see Oldham over power Crewe with their finishing started with the visitors on the front foot. Taylor shot straight at Tomlinson after he received a pass from Kieran Lee and after O'Connor had cheaply surrendered possession to Hughes, his curling shot lacked real conviction to test Tomlinson.

Crewe created an early chance too but again Hazel did superbly well to head clear Brayford's teasing cross ahead of Bopp.

Oldham were looking the more likely side to take the lead though and so it proved on 57 minutes. They needed a little bit of good fortune to open the scoring, with O'Donnell slipping at the vital moment to allow Byfield to get in behind our back four. After latching onto a pass from Kelvin Lomax, Byfield kept his composure to cut back inside and drill a low shot past the helpless Tomlinson from close range.

Three minutes later Crewe arguably created their only real chance of the second half when Moore drifted past Hazel but shot into the side netting. Bopp also shot over via a free-kick as Crewe tried to find an instant response.

Hughes, who had been kept relatively quiet for much of the match suddenly became more of a threat in-and-around the penalty area. He headed an Eardley cross just over the bar before he curled home a superb second goal for the Latics. The former Coventry and West Brom striker brilliantly used O'Donnell as a disguise before curling his shot around the defender and past Tomlinson.

That killer second goal prompted a change from Dario Gradi with Clayton Donaldson replacing Grant. Oldham also made a swift with youngster Lewis Alessandra coming on for Byfield.

Oldham continued to press forward and with 13 minutes remaining, the lively Hughes forced Tomlinson into another good save after the forward had robbed Carrington of possession. Hughes also headed another effort into the arms of Tomlinson.

Hughes would finish off the Railwaymen with just seven minutes remaining. He stole a yard on O'Donnell to head home an Alessandra cross past Tomlinson. It rubbed salt into the Alex wounds.

Crewe now wanted the final whistle, but we had Tomlinson to thank once again when he saved superbly from Alessandra. After such a promising first half performance, Crewe had found it increasingly difficult to create any real clear-cut chances in the second half and Oldham ran out fairly comfortable 3-0 winners.