Town had suffered five away defeats on the trot before the strike by Williams, Town's in-form left back, brought the turning point in a tough trans-Pennine clash that was littered with errors in driving rain and strong winds. But Town handled the conditions better and Williams struck on 59 minutes with his trusty left foot, arrowing his shot from 25-yards inside the right-hand post of keeper Dean Brill.

Town had gone closest in the first half when Jordan Rhodes was denied his 13th goal of the season when a superb header rattled the crossbar. Antony Kay had earlier sent a powerful drive inches wide with Brill scrambling across his line in vain.

Ex-Town player Keigan Parker broke clear only to be robbed of a possible chance by a classy covering tackle by Lee Peltier, who with Williams made for a strong defensive show alongside Town's skipper Peter Clarke and namesake Nathan.

Rhodes, who with Lee Novak demanded lots of attention from Oldham's defence, threatened with a shot and a delightful header from another Williams free-kick. before Deane Smalley went close for the hosts. "It's been a perfect away day," said Lee Clark.

Oldham: Brill; Holdsworth, Hazell, Gregan, Sheehan; Smalley, Whittaker, Furman, Colbeck (Blackman 66); Parker (Lee 86), Abbott. Unused substitutes: Jacobson, Black, Brooke, Ollerenshaw, Rowney.

Huddersfield: Smithies; Peltier, P Clarke, N Clarke, Williams; Pilkington (Ainsworth 83), Kay, Collins, Roberts; Rhodes, Novak (Robinson 75). Unused Substitutes: Glennon, Berrett, T Clarke, Drinkwater, Butler.

Referee: T Kettle (Rutland).

Man of the match: Robbie Williams.