BURY 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic have become the draw specialists of Sky Bet League One.
Latics extended their unbeaten start to their 2015/16 league campaign with a draw at Bury which was their fourth stalemate from five games in the black pudding Lancashire derby.
It was a good point, but there was disappointment that Latics were unable to hold on to the lead given to them by Lee Croft as Tom Pope bagged a second-half leveller.
It was like a home game for Latics who have a near 2,000 following at Gigg Lane where they made a bright start
And they took the lead midway through the opening period when Croft stole in at the far post to convert a cross from Jonathan Forte.
It was proving an eventful afternoon for Timothee Dieng who, are being booked early in the game, had to leave the field temporarily to get a cut to his head tended to.
Bury eventually grew into the game and thought they ought to have had a penalty late in the opening half when Danny Rose had appeals waved aside.
Pope had a strike blocked early in the second half from which Latics broke and Croft set up Forte who was unable to score to make it 2-0.
Bury began peppering the visiting goal in pursuit of an equaliser as Tom Soares went close.
Latics remained a threat as Mike Jones fired wide and then they broke from a Bury corner and James Wilson showed why he is a centre back as he failed to convert when through on goal.
Those misses came back to haunt Latics as Bury equalised midway through the opening half as Pope, a summer signing from Port Vale, shot home with the aid of the inside of a post. While Latics found themselves under the cosh for lengthy spells, they remained a threat on the break.
Centre back Jonathan Burn limped off enabling new Lithuanian striker Simonas Stankevicius, signed on a half-season loan from Leicester, to be handed his debut with 15 minutes left.
And he might have become an instant hero but he shot straight at keeper Rob Lainton when well placed to find the net.
Latics finished the game strongly, but had to settle for a point as this lively derby ended in stalemate.