NEIL Lennon said we shouldn’t judge his side on early pre-season outings – and there was certainly much more to be positive about at Boundary Park last night.

From the immaculate defensive performance of young Derik Osede to Gary Madine’s red-blooded display up front, Wanderers finally served up something to steady the nerves that seem to have been jangling all summer.

Liam Feeney’s spectacular first-half volley and Madine’s scrambled second had put the Whites in the driving seat by half time – after which the composure shown to see the game out without any further alarm must have pleased the manager no end.

As with the three defeats that preceded it, the win has to be put into context. League One Oldham’s line-up was equally experimental.

But there was plenty to admire in the end from Wanderers, even though the margin of victory should probably have been more.

Lennon had started with an orthodox 4-4-2 but soon had to abandon his plans when Tom Walker hobbled off barely 10 minutes in.

Before that, Feeney’s pace had twice got him into a good position down the left channel but after one weak shot failed to test Joel Coleman, he then fluffed a pass to play Walker in on goal after a quick counter.

It threatened to be one of those nights for the former Millwall man but on 20 minutes he raced on to a long ball over the top from Derik and blasted an unstoppable angled shot past Coleman into the roof of the net.

Never the most natural finisher, Feeney scored just three times for the Whites last season; I doubt any were struck as sweetly as this.

A few minutes later, having ushered centre-halves Derik and Dorian Dervite forward for a corner, Feeney scuffed the ball into the first man and once again showed the frustrating side to his game.

Oldham, playing some nice football through midfield, huffed and puffed. Lively striker Dominic Poleon caused a few problems with his direct running but Wanderers looked solid, particularly with a recognised right-back in Lawrie Wilson balancing out the back four.

Youngster Derik was also showing he was completely over the mistake that blighted his debut game at Morecambe last week, and despite his Spanish heritage, showed he was not averse to knocking a typically English long ball over the top if one looked necessary.

Genuine pace is a rare commodity in the Wanderers squad but with Feeney playing off front man Gary Madine, it was there to be used.

And had the Whites been more clinical in front of goal they could have been out of sight at the break.

Madine seized on a poor pass from Joe Mills on the edge of the box but laboured while trying to get his shot away. Josh Vela followed up but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.

Darren Pratley then squeezed a pass through to Dobbie barely four yards from goal – only for Gavin Gunning to make an excellent challenge to divert the danger.

The second goal finally arrived, albeit in comedic circumstances. A deep cross from Wilson found Dobbie at the far post and his shot deflected off an Oldham defender – the whole stadium stopped, as if the referee had blown his whistle – but Madine prodded the ball over the line. Soon, both players were celebrating the goal and the 400-or-so Wanderers fans exploded into life after a bizarre delay.

Neil Danns went close to a third shortly after the restart, curling a shot inches wide of the post after some neat build-up play from Vela and Pratley.

Dobbie also brought a smart save out of Coleman with a cultured volley – the Scot playing in a deeper role but continuing to impress in his bid to win a contract.

Likewise Wilson, who was withdrawn after 64 minutes, did his chances no harm at all with a solid display.

It was comfortable for Wanderers in the second half and with the back four looking as settled as it has at any stage of the pre-season so far, you could tell there wouldn’t be any late surprises.

Amos did make a save in the dying moments to deny Rhys Murphy from close range after a flurry of defensive substitutions had upset the balance somewhat. But the Whites deserved a clean sheet from an entirely competent performance – and here’s hoping it is something to build on as the big kick-off against Derby County draws ever closer.

Wanderers: Amos; Wilson (White 64), Dervite, Derik (Taylor 85), Moxey; Feeney (Twardzik 64), Vela, Pratley (Hall 64), Walker (Danns 10), Dobbie, Madine (Woolery 85).