Alessandra stuns leaders

Young Latics striker in white-hot form

Last updated: 28th October 2008

Alessandra stuns leaders

Eardley: Set-up second for Alessandra

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A stunning hat-trick from Oldham's teenage striker Lewis Alessandra sent leaders Scunthorpe crashing to a 3-0 defeat - their first loss in 12 games.

The 19-year-old local boy, making his first start in six games, hit the first treble of his career in the 26th, 50th and 60th minutes.

Alessandra smashed home his first from 25 yards, his second came from close range after a good cross from Neal Eardley and his third was a neat 12-yard finish.

Nine-goal top goalscorer Gary Hooper was the visitors' danger man, but failed to get the better of Latics' veteran goalkeeper Mark Crossley in a fascinating duel.

The nearest the Iron came to scoring was in the 49th minute when Krystian

Pearce hit the crossbar with a bullet header. But Oldham, who had only won one of their previous seven games, could have inflicted an even heavier defeat.

Lee Hughes had a shot cleared off the line in the 72nd minute and winger Chris Taylor fired a shot against a post a minute later.