James Norwood celebrated his first hat-trick in over a decade but said the win meant more.

The Latics striker had claimed the matchball by half-time with a left-foot, right foot and headed finish making for the perfect hat-trick.

Josh Kay completed the scoreline with a brilliant goal within seven minute of coming off the bench, to boost goal difference in a tight top of the table.

And Norwood said his own contribution was a bonus in picking up more valuable points in Oldham's promotion push.

"It's my first hat-trick for 11 years, so I was due! But I didn't really think about it to be honest. When I headed it (for the third) I thought I'd sent it 30 feet over the bar and I just heard the cheer. I had to ask at half-time to see what happened," explained the striker, whose first was a left foot finish from Josh Stones' pass and second a penalty, earned by Will Sutton, that he took with his favoured right foot.

"I'm just happy because usually I get two and then don't get another chance, so for me it was just a nice little bonus. If we win the game that's the most important thing, but if we can do both that's brilliant.

James Norwood's second was from the spotJames Norwood's second was from the spot (Image: Phill Smith)

"I'm just really happy to get chances. We play really well, we create chances and I love to be inside the six-yard box, in and around the penalty spot, and it just fell to me (for the first).

"I missed a couple of chances in the second half with a good save and a tip from the keeper but overall it was a pleasing performance from everybody.

"We've still got things to work on. At 3-0 we were a little bit complacent but we came in and were self-aware enough to know that so we tried to put that right in the second half. It shows how we've grown as a team that we're coming in at 3-0 and going 'do you know what, we can do better'.

"But overall, we had to shift things around yesterday losing Rags (Charlie Raglan, to injury) and Reagan (Ogle) stepped in and did unbelievably. It's just pleasing that we're creating and getting chances and getting in the right areas and I'm in a position to put them away this week."

Of a comfortable win, which pushed Latics up to fourth, Norwood added: "If we can score goals - we're a team capable of scoring goals, we defend by attacking and that's the way we play. We've got two flying wing backs, two forward thinking midfielders and strikers that want to score goals and run it behind. If teams are defending against us they're going to struggle to score."