Oldham secured a precious win at Colchester to boost their League Two play-off hopes.
The Latics took an eighth-minute lead when defender Donervon Daniels tapped home from close range after Jamie Robson's free-kick into the six-yard box.
Oldham almost doubled their advantage just before half-time through Kane Drummond, who fired in a shot which was saved by U's goalkeeper Matt Macey at his near post.
Colchester came close to an equaliser after the break when Kyreece Lisbie beat Daniels for pace and edged past goalkeeper Mathew Hudson in the six-yard box but overran the ball.
However, the U's were level in the 54th minute when Lisbie nodded Jack Payne's curled ball past Hudson and into the net.
Lisbie fired straight at Hudson soon after but Kane Taylor restored Oldham's lead in the 87th minute when he glanced Robson's curled ball into the box.
And Oldham sealed their victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Drummond swept the ball home after Mike Fondop had collected Macey's poor clearance and picked him out.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Cowley: 'We didn't play in the first half'
Mellon: 'We need to keep winning games'
