FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic’s lack of firepower was glaringly obvious in the defeat at Forest Green Rovers on the opening day of their Sky Bet League Two campaign.
They went down to a late goal from 19-year-old substitute Taylor Allen, a striker plucked from non-league Nuneaton by manager Mark Cooper.
That provide a rare spark in a dour match as Latics failed to register a shot on target in 90 minutes and fired a third successive blank following losses in friendlies against non-league Stockport County and Halifax Town.
And with this is mind, manager Laurent Banide changed his front line as Vera and Azankpo lost their places as Scott Wilson was brought in and there was a change to a 4-1-4-1.
Banide handed five debuts in the starting line-up, Gary Woods, Zak Mills, Mohamed Sefil, Wilson and David Wheater
Latics made a bright start with Rovers dealt an early blow after losing George Williams in the opening five minutes following a challenge by Mills who had been pushed forward from right back to the right side of midfield.
Mills fired over a number of decent low crosses which nobody was able to get on the end of.
Rovers began to take control of possession midway through the half but they were unable to translate that into chances.
Latics had a shout for a penalty turned down five minutes before the break when Wilson, who had beaten two defenders, went to ground.
Neither side in the opening half created a clear-cut chance with Mohamed Maouche and former Latics and current Rovers’ captain Joseph Mills both booked for late challenges.
Latics started the brighter again in the opening minutes and had another shout for a penalty waved away after Mills this time went down.
Cooper’s side stepped up the pressure and thought his side had scored only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Rovers began to take control and Latics’ goalkeeper made two smart saves before belatedly making a breakthrough with 18 minutes left when Allen fired into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
Latics had a great chance to equalise late on when substitute Urko Vera had time and space to connect with a Desire Segbe Azankpo cut back but the Spanish striker fired agonisingly wide as hopes of snatching a point disappeared.
Oldham Athletic (4-1-4-1): Woods; Hamer, Sefil, Wheater, Iacovitti; Sylla (Vera 82); Mills, Maouche, Missilou, Branger-Engone (Nepomuceno 79); Wilson (Azankpo 64). Subs (not used): Stott, Fage, Eagles, Zabret.
Goal: Allen (72) for Rovers.
Attendance: 2,541 (554 visitors)