OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, SWINDON TOWN 2
This was the day Oldham Athletic’s slim prospect of a League Two play-off place probably died after they were held at home by Swindon Town.
The dropped points arguably left Latics leaving too much to do with too little time left.
When Paul Scholes resigned as manager after only one win in his seven games in charge, Latics were 11 points adrift of the play-off places.
Three straight wins with interim head coach Pete Wild in charge suddenly catapulted them to within five points of seventh place.
But after being held by the Robins, Latics are seven points adrift with five matches left.
And Wild’s side would probably have to win all five games to stand any chance of making the play-offs.
In a pulsating contest, Latics took the lead through George Edmundson, fell 2-1 behind through goals from Michael Doughty and Kyle Bennett before Johan Branger-Engone earned a point.
It was a measure of Latics’ new-found stability that Wild had not seen the need to make any changes in his four games.
Latics made the perfect start as Edmundson broke the deadlock in the seventh minute through Edmundson.
Mohamed Maouche whipped in a freekick which found the captain Peter Clarke whose header was saved by Luke McCormick only for Edmundson to slot home the rebound.
The visitors had their first real opportunity when a cross form the right found Theo Robinson, but he could only hit his shot straight at Daniel Iversen.
Swindon almost equalised when Kyle Knoyle crossed for Kyle Bennett whose header hit the upright.
Maouche and Christopher Missilou played a neat one-two on the edge of the Swindon box before the latter has a decent effort saved by McCormick.
The leveller came in first half stoppage time when Robinson was brought down by Edmundson and Doughty scored from the spot.
Swindon had the first chance of the second half when Robinson headed down to Ali Kolki, but he volleyed over.
The Robins took the lead on the hour when Latics gave the ball away cheaply with Bennett drilling a low shot past Iversen.
Substitute Mohamed Sylla then found Callum Lang who forced a decent save from McCormick before Latics equalised with 20 minutes left.
A cross from Hamer was only cleared as far as Branger-Engone and he volleyed into the top corner.
Lang had two great chances as he headed wide from a long ball from Iversen and forced a fine save from McCormick after being found by Christopher Missilou.
Substitute Jose Baxter, back after a three-match ban, had a couple of efforts from distance sail over the bar before Iversen had to be at his best, denying James Dunne from close range to prevent the visitors from taking maximum points.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hamer, Clarke, Edmundson, Iacovitti; Branger-Engone (Afolayan 73), Maouche (Sylla 64), Missilou, Nepomuceno; Lang, O’Grady (Baxter 58). Subs (not used): Coke, de la Paz, Benteke, Hunt.
Attendance 4,064 (362 visitors).