STEVENAGE BOROUGH 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic maintained a nine-point cushion between them and last place in Sky Bet League Two following their goalless draw at bottom-club Stevenage Borough who stretched their winless run to 11 games.
It was a hard-earned point for Latics three days after they also drew at fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town.
The game was emotional for Latics’ head coach Dino Maamria as he returned to the club where he was sacked as manager earlier this season.
Maamria made two changes from the side that drew against the Silkmen as Zak Mills and Christian N’Guessan were called up – the latter the first start for the on-loan midfielder – as Mohamad Sylla and the injured Mani Dieseruvwe lost out.
Latics also had Zak Dearnley, back for a second spell at Boundary Park, on the bench.
Jonny Smith had the first chances of the night when his long-range shot was saved by Paul Farman and a header cleared off the goalline.
On the half-hour Smith hit the side netting after a good move between N’Guessan and Gevaro Nepomuceno released the latter.
Five minutes later and Maamria’s team had the ball in the net but Desire Segbe Azankpo’s glancing header from Smith’s cross was adjudged offside.
Stevenage hit back with a couple of counter attacks, the first was saved well by Gary Woods, with the second wasted as Latics were outnumbered four players to one.
As the first half was about to end, Woods was replaced by Zeus de la Paz after he was clattered by an opponent. It was later revealed he had broken ribs.
Graham Westley’s side started the second period the brighter.
Latics came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour when Carl Piergianni’s header from Tom Hamer’s long throw almost crept in.
It was not Azankpo’s night as he had a second goal ruled out for offside.
The best chance of the night fell to Azankpo who was put clean through on goal on the right, but Farman rushed from his goal and made himself big to deny the striker.
As the game came to an end, Latics lived dangerously as Charlie Larkin’s effort was clawed out by de la Paz, Kurtis Guthrie hit the crossbar and Charlie Carter’s header was cleared off the line by Mills.
Oldham Athletic (4-2-3-1): Woods (de la Paz); Hamer, Piergianni, Wheater, Nepomuceno (Wilson 79); Jones (Sylla 55), Missilou; Mills, N’Guessan, Smith; Azankpo. Subs (not used): Branger-Engone, Maouche, Egert, Dearnley.
Attendance: 2,156.