FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic lived dangerously as they picked up their first point of the season in Sky Bet League One following a first-ever visit to Forest Green Rovers.
A late leveller, a Dan Gardner penalty, earned Latics a share of the spoils after former player Rueben Reid had fired the Cotswolds club ahead in the opening half.
But there was considerable scope for improvement, something later acknowledged by manager Frank Bunn as on-loan keeper Daniel Iverson was their hero.
That was borne out by the stats that saw Rovers have 58-per-cent of play, 13 goal attempts to Latics’ eight while corners were 7-2 in their favour.
Bunn made two changes from the side beaten by MK Dons in their opener, both up front as out went Sam Surridge and Isthmael Millar to be replaced by Chris O’Grady and Gevaro Nepomuceno.
There were some familiar faces in the Rovers side as, apart from Reid, there was Carl Winchester, Joseph Mills, Reece Brown and Gavin Gunning.
After a low-key opening, Rovers took the lead midway through the opening period when Sam Graham’s slip was pounced on by Reid whose shot found the bottom corner.
It was a 45 minutes of precious little goalmouth action, though Winchester curled an effort narrowly wide.
Jose Baxter, injured in the first pre-season friendly, was introduced at half time and almost immediately got Latics level, but his effort was saved by keeper Robert Sanchez.
Iversen, on a season-long loan from Leicester, was then called into action as he flew to his left to save brilliantly to deny Reece Brown.
Baxter curled an effort wide before Iversen was there again, this time to beat away Winchester’s effort.
Iversen versus Winchester was becoming a theme in the game and the big Dane denied the former Latics’ man once again superbly.
The ball was crossed low into Winchester but Iversen spread himself, much like another famous Danish goalkeeper, to keep Latics in the game.
Latics were level in the 78th minute when Baxter was brought down by Sanchez with Gardner stepping up and dispatching the penalty.
Rovers thought they had won the game in the last minute when Christian Doidge found the net, but it was ruled out for a foul on Iverson.
Latics (4-5-1): Iverson; Hamer, Edmundson, Graham, Hunt; Branger-Engine, Gardner, Missilou (Maouche 56), Coke (Baxter 45), Nepomuceno, O’Grady. Subs (not used): de la Paz, Benteke, Stott, Sheridan, Norris.
Attendance 2,759 (844 away supporters)