SCUNTHORPE UNITED 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic extended their unbeaten run to six games following their 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United, but still remain in the Sky Bet League One relegation places.
It was a game which Latics looked like winning when Danny Lafferty gave them the lead with only 12 minutes left.
But hopes of picking up three points, which would have lifted Latics out of the bottom four, were dashed when Kyle Wooton equalised after 88 minutes.
Manager John Sheridan was forced into one change as Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who limped off during the midweek win at Peterborough United with an ankle injury, was replaced by Joseph Mills in a 4-5-1 formation with Curtis Main the lone striker.
Jonathan Forte, rested in midweek, missed out from the squad altogether though illness. He was on the bench against Posh.
Scunthorpe made the livelier start as striker Tom Hopper lobbed an effort over the crossbar and Jim O’Brien’s effort was easily saved by Joel Coleman.
Latics had to wait until the 16th minute before creating their first chance when Main held up the ball for Carl Winchester whose shot flashed inches wide of the upright.
Mills then saw a strike fly narrowly wide in what was a scrappy opening period.
Just after the half hour mark, Coleman had to be alert to save a Conor Townsend free kick from 25 yards. The goalkeeper did well to tip the ball wide of the goal after the Hull loanee got the ball up and over the wall.
Three minutes later, Paddy Madden had the hosts’ best opportunity of the first half as he headed against the bar at the back post.
The second half started much the same as the first ended as neither side was controlling the game.
The first chance of the second half fell to the Iron, and they really should have taken the lead when Jamie Ness’ free kick fell to Hopper but he missed his kick in front of goal and the chance passed.
That was a let off for Latics from the resulting corner as Murray Wallace headed inches over Coleman’s goal.
Sheridan made changes and brought Jake Cassidy and Mike Jones on and changed to a 4-4-2 formation and Latics had a lot more joy on the ball.
It was Coleman, however, who had to save from Madden mid-half and not long after he denied Townsend.
Latics started to apply pressure and were rewarded with the opening goal of the game after 78 minutes.
Matt Palmer did superbly on the right hand side and he laid the ball into Lafferty who from 12 yards steered a shot into the far corner to put Latics ahead.
Scunthorpe threw caution to the wind in pursuit of an equaliser. Substitute Gary McSheffrey saw an effort saved by Coleman before the equaliser came at the death.
After a cross into the box was not dealt with, Wooton picked up the ball at the back post and fired into the bottom corner.
It was a tough one to take for Latics but they almost conjured a winning goal in the final minute through Cassidy but keeper Luke Daniels saved the day for the Iron as they had to settle for a point when three would have pulled them out of the relegation places.