OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, STEVENAGE 1
Oldham Athletic conceded a last-gasp goal for the fourth successive game as they were held at home by Stevenage.
And Kurtis Guthrie’s 90th minute equaliser meant Latics are now without a win in four games as Paul Scholes is discovering the harsh realities of management in League Two.
It looked as though Scholes would register a second win from five matches, thanks to Jose Baxter’s strike early in the second half, until Guthrie’s late intervention which left Latics seven points adrift of the play-off places.
Latics started the game quite brightly as Zak Dearnley linked up well with Callum Lang before seeing his shot blocked.
Dearnley then played a superb ball out wide to Gevaro Nepomuceno before demanding the ball back, but on this occasion, he couldn’t keep his effort down as it cleared the crossbar.
Nepomuceno had an effort himself saved well by Paul Farman after being picked out by Baxter.
Luke Wilkinson headed a good chance over for the visitors before Daniel Iversen produced another great save to turn away a free kick from Ilias Chair that was arrowing towards the top corner.
Lang headed wide from a Nepomuceno cross before Stevenage started to impose themselves in the game.
Latics were having to stand firm, but they did have Iversen to thank once again after a terrific save to turn Alex Revell’s effort over the crossbar.
Latics took the lead early in the second half as Baxter turned and fired in a low drive into the bottom corner leaving Farman with no chance.
Somehow Latics didn’t manage to double their lead as Baxter saw a couple of efforts blocked before Nepomuceno whipped in a terrific ball, but Lang somehow couldn’t convert inside the six-yard box.
Dearnley dragged a shot wide before playing a beautiful ball through to Nepomuceno whose effort was superbly saved by Farnan.
Latics’ substitute Oladapo Afolayan had an effort deflected wide before a Mohamed Maouche corner beat everyone but failed to find the net.
Then came the moment Latics didn’t want to happen as Guthrie equalised in the 90th minute.
Chair’s corner was headed home by Guthrie as Latics conceded a goal in stoppage time for the fourth game in a row.
It could have been even worse for Latics as Chair smashed a free kick against the crossbar with just seconds to go.
Oldham Athletic (4-3-1-2): Iversen; Hamer, Edmundson, Clarke, Hunt; Maouche, Missilou, Nepomuceno; Baxter (Afolayan 81); Lang, Dearnley. Subs (not used): Coke, O’Grady, de la Paz, Sefil, Branger-Engone, Sylla.
Attendance 3,807 (92 visitors).