OXFORD UNITED 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic overcame adversity at Oxford United where they picked up a valuable away point in their battle against relegation from Sky Bet League One.
Latics lost Kean Bryan early in the game through injury and, with Anthony Gerrard and Brian Wilson also ruled out, they faced a centre-back crisis.
Scholar Tom Hamer, usually a right-back, were forced to play alongside young pro George Edmundson in the centre of defence.
Hamer excelled as Latics kept a clean sheet and they may well have snatched victory as they had two shouts for penalties rejected as they claimed fouls on Wilfried Moimbe and Rob Hunt.
Manager Richie Wellens made two changes to the side which beat Blackpool on Easter Monday as Jack Byrne returned to the starting 11 in place of Ben Pringle while Tope Obadeyi was preferred to Duckens Nazon as Latics switched from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 with Eoin Doyle the lone front man.
After a quiet opening, Latics were forced into making a chance after only 17 minutes when Bryan limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Hamer.
It was an assured opening from the youngster who won headers and dispossessed opposition players.
Latics felt they should have been awarded a penalty just before the half hour as Moimbe appeared to be pushed to the floor but nothing was given.
Wellens’ side grew into the half and finished strongly, forcing a number of chances.
Byrne saw an effort fly over the crossbar from 25 yards while Obadeyi played the ball into the box for Moimbe racing in at the back post but the full back could not connect.
Four minutes of additional time was signalled in the first half and Latics were almost ahead deep into that.
Obadeyi crossed the ball into the box which Doyle controlled and laid back to Byrne. The attacker got past his man and shot from eight yards but somehow Oxford managed to clear the ball off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.
Seconds later, with the pressure on, Obadeyi again found Doyle in the box but his shot from 12 yards was blocked.
Both sides had chances after the break as Obadeyi looped a header on to the roof of the goal while at the other end, Ryan Ledson’s effort cannoned into the path of Wes Thomas who volleyed wide.
Latics could have done a lot better minutes later as Obadeyi raced at goal, but with Doyle and Byrne around him, elected to shoot and his effort was blocked.
From a free kick, Oxford should have been ahead, had it have not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Johny Placide.
Henry’s cross found Rob Dickie on the six-yard box but Placide saved his effort from point blank range. An almighty scramble ensured but Latics managed to clear the danger.
After being turned down for a penalty in the first half, Latics felt they had a stronger case for a spot kick after 75 minutes.
Hunt made an excellent run into the box, received the ball but appeared to be fouled by Henry but the referee gave nothing.
Clear cut chances were few and far between in the final minutes of the game but Edmundson saw a header go wide, while Nazon, a second half substitute, cut in the from the left and shot but his effort was blocked.
Ledson went close from 25 yards but Placide made the save while in the final minute of additional time, Nazon’s effort was deflected over the crossbar.
Oldham Athletic (4-2-3-1): Placide; Hunt, Edmundson, Bryan (Hamer 18), Moimbe; Fane, Gardner; Obadeyi (Nazon 68), Byrne, McEleney; Doyle (Holloway 88). Subs (not used): De La Paz, Nepomuceno, Pringle, Benteke.
Attendance: 7,906 (492 visitors)