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Hughes already eyeing promotion

Fred Austin
24/ 8/2008

ON-FIRE Lee Hughes sent Oldham scorching to the top of League One with a stunning hat-trick in 17 marvellous minutes.

The 31-year-old hitman left Cheltenh am shell-shocked with superb strikes in the 45th, 50th and 62nd minutes.

It left the lively Latcs as the only team in the division with a 100 per cent record and former Premiership marksman Hughes insisted: "We can go all the way for promotion.

"There is no doubt the squad is good enough and we also have strength in depth."

Hughes is now on his way to his target of 20-plus goals for the season and he added: "I did have a few more difficult chances before I scored but the ones in front of goal I put away, that's the main thing.

"You have to be in the box to score and that's why I have bagged more than 20 goals in a season quite a few times in my career.

"If I keep getting in there I will score more.

"We have a great team spirit and th at has been shining through on the pitch.

"We work hard for each other and I w ould not have got my hat-trick had it not been for the lads, they made th e chances for me."

But it was also another solid defensive display to shut out Cheltenham and keeper Mark Crossley only had one save to make when he denied Jennison Myrie-Williams to stop them geting back into the game. Oldham have kept two clean sheets in three games.

The visitors were completely wiped out when busy midfielder Danny Whitaker grabbed his first goal for the club with a well-struck 20-yarder five minutes from the end.

Delighted boss John Sheridan said: "Some of our football in the second half was absolutely brilliant, the best since I took charge.

"Our performance was spot on and we might have scored a couple more goals in the first half.

"The way we passed the ball was top-drawer stuff and Lee Hughes showed what he is all about.

"He is a poacher and a very good one.

"He is very clever in the penalty area , he knows where to be at the right time and when the ball falls to him he usually puts them away.

"Hughesy is a big player for us and the trick will be to keep him fit.

"But we have several players playing really well and if they can maintain that week in, week out we will win mo re games than we will lose.

"But I will keep their feet on the ground and none of them will get carried away, I will make sure of that.

"I have told them there is a long way to go and, for the moment, to enjoy being top of the table.

"I said before the season that we will s core goals and no one can argue with 10 in three games.

"We have got the start we wanted and we now have to keep it going for as long as we can."

OLDHAM: Crossley 8, Eardley, 8 Hazell 8, Gregan 8, Lomax 8, Liddell 7 ( Smalley 72 mins, 7), Allott 7 (Maher 86 mins 6), Whitaker 8, Taylor 7, Hughes 9 (O'Grady 72 mins, 7), Alessandra 8.

Subs not used: Fleming, Stam

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