OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, GILLINGHAM 1
Former player Tom Eaves cruelly put a dent in Oldham Athletic’s bid for Sky Bet League One survival.
The striker scored a penalty in the 92nd minute as Latics had to settle for one point instead of three as they remain perilously close to the relegation places.
The spot kick followed an off-the-ball incident that resulted in Latics’ left back Wilfried Moimbe being sent off.
After three draws in the last week, Latics squandered six points that would have made them all but safe.
But according to manager Richie Wellens they still need two wins from their remaining five games to reach 52 points which he believes will keep them up.
Latics had been ahead in the match from the stroke of half time.
Wellens named an unchanged squad to the side which drew 1-1 with Walsall on Wednesday night.
It was Latics who started the brighter openings fell to Patrick McEleney, Eoin Doyle, Nazon and Jack Byrne.
Gills started to up the pressure as former Latics’ loanee Conor Wilkinson skipped past his man in the penalty box but Placide saved while Rob Hunt blocked ex-Latics’ player Josh Parker from following up the effort.
Anthony Gerrard had to throw his body on the line midway through the half as Wilkinson found space in the penalty box.
Doyle and Byrne combined as Byrne floated a free kick for Doyle but he headed against the post.
Latics were doing all the pressing and were the most likely to find the opening goal.
George Edmundson almost opened the scoring five minutes before the break as he met an inswinging free kick from Byrne, but keeper Tomas Holy somehow made the save on the line.
That opening goal arrived before the break and it was a second goal in as many games for Nazon.
The striker took on his man in the penalty box and unleashed a fierce strike which flew past Holy into the bottom corner.It was the goal Latics deserved as they led at the break.
Gillingham started the second half well and almost found an equaliser two minutes after the interval. Wilkinson had space on the edge of the box but curled inches wide of the goal.
It was an end-to-end start to the half as Doyle and Byrne combined once again but Doyle could not get his shot on target.
Gillingham made a double switch just before the hour mark and brought on Eaves and Luke O’Neill.
Eaves was straight into the action and crossed for Jake Hessenthaler six yards from goal. His header looked destined for the goal but Placide managed to make a superb save on the line to deny the midfielder.
Gillingham really put on the pressure as they launched a number of long balls forward which had to be dealt with by the Latics defence.
But Latics almost doubled their lead after 75 minutes as Byrne picked out the onrushing Doyle but the striker hit the stanchion at the back of the goal.
It was a nervy last 15 minutes for Latics who had to withstand a lot of pressure.
However, in the final minute of the game, the game was to turn on its head as Moimbe received his marching orders for an off the ball incident.
The referee consulted his assistant and awarded a penalty kick to the amazement of everyone in the stadium.
After a lengthy stoppage, Eaves stepped up and despite Placide diving the right way, it went into the corner to snatch a point and deny Latics two.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Placide; Hunt, Gerrard, Edmundson, Moimbe; Byrne, Fane, Gardner, McEleney (Nepomuceno 69); Nazon (Amadi-Holloway 84), Doyle (Hamer 90+2). Subs (not used): De La Paz, Pringle, Obadeyi, Benteke.
Goals: Nazon (45) for Oldham. Eaves (90+2) for Gillingham.
Attendance: 3,850 (215 visitors).