Pitman kickstarts Cherries challenge
Brett Pitman boosted Bournemouth's promotion hopes by firing them to a 1-0 win at struggling Oldham.
Pitman's 12th goal of the season settled a scrappy game which saw Oldham, who remain in the npower League One drop zone, squander a second-half penalty.
The crucial strike came after 22 minutes when a sharp move down the left ended with Lewis Grabban crossing to Pitman for a six-yard finish.
Pitman forced a smart save from Oldham goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, while Grabban also went close to doubling the visitors' lead.
Oldham's first real effort came on the hour-mark as Jordan Obita's angled shot was tipped around the post by Bournemouth goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.
But the Latics wasted a golden chance after 70 minutes when they won a penalty for Grabban's handball - Jose Baxter dinked his spot-kick down the middle and Allsop clawed it out despite diving to his right.
Baxter almost made amends, but Allsop beat away his 25-yard free-kick to earn Bournemouth back-to-back victories.
Source: PA
