PORT VALE 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Carl Winchester’s 94th minute equaliser for Oldham Athletic at Port Vale sparked celebrations that were richly deserved.
It was as though they had won while the Valiants had a sinking feeling as the final result felt like a defeat.
The point was no more than Latics deserved from a game they dominated as the stats underlined.
Latics have 17 goal attempts to Vale’s five while the corner cout was also 13-3 in their favour, proof of their dominance.
After a goalless opening period, the game burst to life in the second half after Ollie Banks gave Latics the lead.
However, two goals against the run of play looked to have given Port Vale the win as Remie Street and Rigino Cicilia struck before Winchester’s last-gasp strike earned a valuable away point.
Manager Stephen Robinson made two changes to his side which narrowly lost to league leaders Scunthorpe United at the weekend.
Paul Green missed out through suspension while Cameron Dummigan was ruled out from a slight hamstring niggle, both were replaced by Ousmane Fane and Josh Law.
Latics dominated the opening hand and had good chances to move ahead.
Freddie Ladapo had the first goal attempt after six minutes when his shot was blocked and that was followed by Peter Clarke’s header forcing a fine save from keeper Ben Alnwick and Cameron Burgess stabbing a shot just wide.
Billy Mckay and Banks both went close soon after before Fane released Ladapo in the penalty area but the striker cut inside before firing off target.
Latics pressed until the final minute of the half and almost took the lead in stoppage time through a 30-yard effort from Banks that flew narrowly over.
The breakthrough came after 48 minutes when Banks found the net from a free kick that was deflected off the defensive wall.
And seconds later, Latics thought they had doubled their lead after persistent work from Flynn created an opening, he crossed to the back post but Ladapo was adjudged to have handled before finding the net.
Within seconds of that incident, Vale won a free kick and Ryan Taylor’s delivery found the head of Street who stooped home from close range to bring Vale level.
That goal came completely against the run of play for the hosts as Latics had frustrated them for the whole of the game.
Fane was booked just after the hour mark which forced Robinson to take the midfielder off as Winchester made his entrance.
The midfielder almost made an immediate impact as he raced on to a loose ball in the penalty area, stabbed at goal but somehow the ball deflected wide of the far post.
Latics had to be wary of the counter attack as Cecilina struck wide from 25 yards with Ripley beaten.
Two minutes later and Vale took the lead, completely against the run of play for a second time.
Alex Jones’s initial effort effort was well saved by Ripley. However, Taylor played the ball back to Cecilina who made no mistake with the follow up.
That was a sucker punch to Latics who had dominated the game throughout.
Robinson made changes and brought on Lee Croft and Lee Erwin to add firepower and one of those changes almost levelled the game with five minutes remaining.
Winchester laid the ball into the path of Erwin who curled towards the top corner but it struck the crossbar.
Athletic battled and battled until the final minutes of the game.
Deep into five minutes of additional time, a ball was hammered across the area and Winchester struck through a host of bodies to equalise for Latics, nothing more than Latics deserved.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Ripley; Law, Clarke, Burgess, Dunne; McLaughlin (Erwin 82), Fane (Winchester 70), Banks, Flynn (Croft 82); Ladapo, Mckay. Subs (not used): Kettings, Reckord, Klok, Osei.
Goals: Streete 50, Cecilina 78 for Vale. Banks 48, Winchester 90+4 for Latics.
Attendance: 3,152 (148 visiting supporters)