CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic’s indifferent form under new manager Paul Scholes continued as they were held at lowly League Two side Cambridge United.
It left Latics without a win in five games as Scholes has earned only one win from his first fixture.
Scholes was also left perplexed by the way his side, which played so well in the opening period, faded in the second half.
Latics lacked a cutting edge in a match of few clear-cut chances from either side – indeed Cambridge scored both goals.
Harrison Dunk’s early own goal gave Latics the lead only for Jevani Brown to equalise immediately after the restart.
Latics gave a debut to Dapo Afoloyan, the striker loaned from West Ham as her replaced Christopher Missilou as Scholes rejigged his side with Zak Dearnley dropping into midfield.
On a cold and windy day, both teams were initially struggling to deal with the conditions.
The hosts had the first shot of the game as David Amoo found Jabo Ibehre but he fired over his left-footed effort.
Latics took the lead in the 12th minute when Gevaro Nepomuceno whipped in a dangerous corner which ended up being diverted into his own net by Dunk who was being pressurised by Peter Clarke.
As far as chances went there were few and far between, but Latics were enjoying the majority of possession.
However, Latics actually created their next opportunity on the counter as Nepomuceno cut the ball back to Mohamed Maouche, but the midfielder curled his shot wide.
Reggie Lambe then tested Daniel Iversen with a pretty tame effort as Latics went into the end of the half with the lead.
The home side equalised minutes into the second half as goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov cleared a long ball forward which went straight through to Brown who slotted it past Iversen into the bottom corner.
Nepomuceno curled an effort over the bar after cutting inside from the right, before Lambe curled an effort wide for Cambridge.
Latics probably had the best chance of the second half as Nepomuceno’s corner fell to the feet of Afolayan but the loanee drilled his effort wide.
Brown fired a free kick wide before substitutes Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Hayden Coulson both tested Iversen with a couple of tame efforts.
Latics had little to offer offensively and a draw was a fair reflection of what was a forgettable game.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hamer, Edmundson, Clarke, Hunt; Dearnley (Branger-Engone 62), Maouche, Baxter (Missilou 52), Nepomuceno; Lang, Afolayan (O’Grady 74). Subs (not used): Taylor, Iacovitti, de la Paz, Sylla.
Attendance 4,758 (504 visitors).