OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, LINCOLN CITY 1
Oldham Athletic overcame adversity to pick up a useful point at home to Sky Bet League Two leaders Lincoln City.
Latics, who extended their unbeaten run to five games in league and cup, had to play more than half the match with 10 men after Ishmael Miller’s sending off.
And they also had to come to terms with the loss of key midfield man Dan Gardner who left the field on a stretcher with a serious knee injury.
Yet Latics had the audacity to take the lead early in the second half through substitute Mohamed Maouche only for Michael O’Connor to draw the Imps level.
Christopher Missilou won a recall in the centre of midfield in place of the injured Jordan Lyden, the Aston Villa loanee, the one enforced change from the side that drew at Tranmere Rovers three days earlier.
The league leaders started well and John Akinde found himself through on goal after he outmuscled George Edmundson and chipped a shot on to the bar.
Johan Branger-Engone then fired over with Latics’ first opportunity, before Dan Gardner hit a left-footed shot also over.
Gardner then had to be replaced after going down when playing a pass and the midfielder looked in some serious discomfort.
Bruno Andrade then forced loanee keeper Daniel Iversen into a comfortable save before a dramatic finish to the opening period.
Miller and goalkeeper Josh Vickers challenged for a loose ball and the referee felt Miller went in with too much force and produced a red card.
Substitute Sam Surridge, who replaced Branger-Engone late in the half, then found himself breaking into the box and seemingly brought down, but referee Ben Toner pointed for a goal kick rather than a penalty.
Manager Frank Bunn’s side got off to a perfect start to the second period.
Substitute Maouche picked up a loose ball and beautifully curled it past Vickers into the top corner, his first league goal for Latics.
However, the lead didn’t last long as Lincoln worked a short free kick before hitting into the box and after a scramble O’Connor fired into the bottom corner past Iversen.
Latics’ fans believed there was handball from a Lincoln player, but the referee allowed it to continue before O’Connor scored.
Iversen then had to keep out an Andrade shot with a smart shot, before Lang hit one straight at Vickers.
Latics had a let off minutes later as Andrade got in down the left and hit the inside of the post with a cross before Latics managed to clear.
Another scramble in the box then fell to Matt Rhead, but Iversen was there again to produce another good save.
Goalscorer Maouche then forced Vickers into a strong stop from a free kick before Lee Frecklington hit one into Iversen’s hands in an end-to-end game.
Callum Lang then carried the ball a long way keeping it away from several Lincoln defenders before hitting a shot narrowly over and Surridge could have nicked it right at the death, but he fired his shot over from a promising position.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hunt, Clarke, Edmundson, Taylor; Branger-Engone (Surridge 45), Gardner (Maouche 36), Missilou, Nepomuceno; Lang, Miller. Subs (not used): O’Grady, Dummigan, Graham, Hamer, McFarlane.
Attendance 3,597 (610 visitors).