Josh Barrett’s brilliant hat-trick earned Aldershot Town three points in a 3-1 win against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

Oldham had lost just three times in the National League this season before kick-off.

Luca Woodhouse was put in from the start for his Shots debut having signed on loan from Wycombe and joined fellow loanee Will Armitage in defence as Jonny Stuttle was given a start.

Oldham began the strongest of the two sides and Mark Kitching forced Marcus Dewhurst into a save in the tenth minute after the hosts had worked a short corner well.

Tyler Frost showed his quality a minute later as he drove down the left wing and beat two opponents after cleverly intercepting a quick free kick but his cross was cleared.

On his Oldham debut, Corry Evans almost introduced himself to the home support in superb fashion.

Winning the ball off Theo Widdrington in midfield, and seeing Dewhurst off his line, Evans lobbed the Shots keeper from almost 40 yards out, only to hit the inside of the post.

Just a minute later, Oldham had a golden opportunity to go in front as Mike Fondop rounded Dewhurst but his touch took him too wide and Oldham were unable to recycle the opportunity.

Dewhurst had to bravely dive in to stop Alex Reid from shooting from close range after a brilliant turn from the Oldham striker.

The Shots had their backs against the wall for most of the first half but were doing well to keep Oldham at bay but a wide free kick was their undoing as Manny Monthe headed home Josh Kay's delivery just before half-time in the 42nd minute.

But despite taking the lead just before the break, it would be Aldershot who would go into half-time in front thanks to a sublime double from Barrett.

In the 44th minute Frost headed Olly Scott's long ball forward down for Barrett, who dinked the ball over the on-rushing Matthew Hudson with his left foot.

And just four minutes later, deep into first-half stoppage time, Barrett lobbed Hudson again as another Scott ball forward was knocked down into his path and the Oldham keeper hadn't learned from his earlier lesson as he was forced to watch Barrett catch him off his line once more.

Barrett completed his hat-trick six minutes into the second half as the Shots showed a clinical touch.

Frost's through ball was knocked into Widdrington's path by an Oldham defender and the midfielder squared it across to Barrett to finish well and earn himself the match ball.

Oldham got a lifeline in the 65th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Scott brought down half-time substitute Josh Lundstrum.

Billy Waters stepped up to take the spot-kick on his Oldham debut, but Dewhurst guessed the right way and pulled off a superb save to his right.

Monthe's physical presence caused the Shots defence problems from set pieces and he almost had his second in the 73rd minute when he should have done better with his header at the back post from a corner.

Dewhurst pulled off another vital save as the game entered the final ten minutes but Oldham should have scored as Kitching received the ball from a flicked-on long throw just yards out.

The Shots then saw out the remaining minutes to earn a vital win.