There is a spring in Mike Fondop's step this season. Quite literally.

"Air Fondop" was a comment written by his former team-mate and house-mate, Dan Ward, underneath a photograph that showed the Cameroonian defying gravity - in a manner similar to that which led basketball legend Michael Jordan inspiring Nike's Air Jordan range - to head in his ninth goal of the season.

Others have likened the leap to Cristiano Ronaldo's, when he was registered to have reached a maximum height of 8ft 5ins and hung in the air for 1.5 seconds to head in the decisive goal in a 2-1 win for Juventus against Sampdoria in December 2019. Of that, one commentator said: "Something you see in NBA."

Fondop rose higher than the crossbar in jumping to meet Mark Kitching's far post header and head in the winner against Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

No mean feat. And no fluke either.

"I've been working a lot on my jumping because I know in this league - in any league - if you jump high you've always got an advantage," he said.

"I do a lot of skipping and do other things that help with jumping.

"As a target man you expect a lot of balls to come on your head from goal kicks or throw-ins. I know I'm quite good with my head but I've been working on it consistently in the gym."

And those extra efforts led to goal number nine for 'God's number nine'.

"Nine is a special one for me. It's a special one to score," he smiled.

"To be fair I thought I could have scored a lot of goals (on Saturday) with some of the chances created. But glory to God and I thank Him for another goal.

"I'll take a goal and more importantly I'll take the win."

Mike Fondop celebrates his winner with Mark Kitching, who provided the assistMike Fondop celebrates his winner with Mark Kitching, who provided the assist (Image: Phill Smith)

Despite a nervy finale - when Dagenham threatened a late leveller but were met by the resistance of a brilliant back three in man of the match Reagan Ogle, Charlie Raglan and Manny Monthe - Fondop's 20th minute goal was enough to secure an eighth league win of the season and fifth place in the table before the break for FA Cup first round weekend.

The result was all the more impressive given how visibly fatigued the players were following two southern trips in the space of four days.

Fondop made reference to the opportunities Oldham had to put the result beyond doubt, including his own missed chances. He looked annoyed, but also accepted they had done what they set out to do in taking the three points, and had done enough.

Latics played against 10 men for just over 15 minutes, after Jake Hessenthaler was sent off in the 74th.

It was a decision harsh enough to rile Dagenham into a response.

Two yellow cards for Josh Kay in the final six minutes levelled up the number of players, but Latics were grateful the same was not reflected in the scoreline; an outcome that would have been harsh on the home side when Mat Hudson had not had a save to make.

The overall performance might not have been overly easy on the eye, but it was a masterclass in mentality, and aerodynamics.