SCUNTHORPE UNITED 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
A stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Jordan Hallam denied Keith Curle a first win as Oldham Athletic head coach.
There has been no significant upturn in fortunes for Latics in Curle’s three matches in charge which have yielded two points from a possible nine.
Alfie McCalmont’s goal early in the second half had looked to be a matchwinner until Hallam’s late intervention which caused heartbreak at Scunthorpe United.
Curle made two changes from the side that was beaten 4-2 at home by Cambridge United three days earlier for the visit to the Sands Venue Stadium with Kyle Jameson returning from suspension and Callum Whelan recalled as Raphael Diarra and Brice Ntambwe lost out.
Goalkeeper Laurie Walker, making his second appearance of his emergency loan, was called into action in just the third minute to deny former Southport player Devarn Green.
And, not long after, the MK Dons loanee produced another smart stop but this time to deny Alex Gilliead.
Dylan Fage nearly put Latics ahead bending an effort from 30 yards which whistled past an upright.
Walker was summoned again to keep out a long-range strike from left-back Junior Brown.
Latics went close just before the interval as Marcel Hilssner’s free kick from the left found Jameson whose header was well kept out by goalkeeper Mark Howard.
Early in the second half, Latics took the lead through McCalmont’s sixth goal of his loan spell from Leeds United.
Nicky Adams’ corner was not cleared and after a scramble the ball was cleared only as far McCalmont who found the net from the edge of the box with a low shot.
The Iron had chances to double their advantage as Jordan Clarke and Kevin van Veen were both thwarted by Walker.
Scunthorpe’s pressure continued to cause Latics problems as Green, with his back to goal, turned quickly but saw his effort from the edge of the box crash against the crossbar.
In the last minute, the hosts were again knocking on the door as Ryan Loft’s effort from distance was parried to safety by Walker.
The Iron were finally rewarded in the 92nd minute as a deep cross from the left found unmarked substitute Hallam at the far post and he slotted home a low shot to leave Latics crestfallen.
Oldham Athletic: Walker, Adams, Fage, Jameson, Piergianni, Badan, Whelan (Diarra 80), McCalmont (Ntambwe 80), McAleny, Keillor-Dunn, Hilssner (Grant 70). Subs: Bilboe (GK), Ntambwe, Tasdemir, Bahamboula, Da Silva.
Goals: Hallam 90+2 for Scunthorpe. McCalmont 49 for Oldham.