At Boundary Park, Latics had to come from behind twice in the first half before settling for a point. Micky Mellon’s team dominated the first fifteen minutes, going forward with attack after attack and perhaps should have been up by two goals before Alty took the lead. After Justin Amaluzor was identified by Chris Conn-Clarke inside the box, he went past Hudson to give them the lead. The least Oldham deserved, Norwood equalised from close range, and Altrincham were controversially awarded a penalty for a supposed handball by Hallam Hope.
Latics had to fight for an equaliser, but they eventually won it when Sheron scored with a strong effort outside the box for the second goal in a row.
When Norwood had the ball inside the area, Oldham had a chance to win it, but the opportunity vanished when he couldn’t get it out from beneath his feet to take a shot. Three minutes into the game, Athletic had the first real opportunity. They dominated the first half of the match. After snagging a pass from his old team, Lundstram moved forward and then passed the ball to Green. Ethan Ross stopped him in between the sticks, allowing Hallam Hope to parry the ball and likely score, but
For the first time in two months, Kieron Freeman came back to the team and unleashed Green down the right wing. Devarn attempted a cross but was unable to identify a Latics shirt.
From a few yards away, Nuttall flung himself at one of Kitching’s signature crosses and came dangerously near to making contact. Subsequently, Altrincham’s goal arrived, striking strongly against the flow of play as Amaluzor headed home Conn-cross Clarke’s, leaving Hudson with no chance. Like in the FA Cup match two weeks prior, McGahey had an attractive chance to equalise when the ball dropped to him, but his powerful effort was saved.
However, they managed to equalise the score when Norwood and Freeman composedly exchanged passes down the right side of the field before Norwood casually punted the ball into the net’s roof.
All of that effort was undone when Altrincham was given a penalty by the referees for what appeared to be a handball by Hope inside the area as he slid in to attempt a tackle. Conn-Clarke took a stride forward and ignominiously positioned the ball in the lower corner. He got engaged in stoppage time in the second half, standing over an inviting free-kick that Hudson did a good job of tipping over the bar. Compared to the first half, Latics found it more difficult to break Alty down and were content to slow the
With thirty minutes remaining in the second half, Mellon decided to switch up the top players and insert Reid in place of Nuttall.
In an attempt to repeat his antics from a week prior, Hallam Hope cut in from the left and attempted a curling shot that went just wide of the post. Green’s chipped attempt found Norwood at the far post, but it went over because of the Altrincham defense’s pressure. It was all Latics with ten minutes remaining, and an equaliser was the least they deserved.
Green headed the ball back to middle, where Norwood controlled it and sent it to Lundstram, who then passed it off to Sheron. Nathan took a touch and fired a hard shot that found the upper corner.
Oldham will concede one point, but he’ll think they ought to have all three.
Oldham: Green, McGahey, Hope, Freeman, Norwood, Sheron, Hudson, Ktiching, Hobson, Lundstram, Nuttall (Reid, 59′). Norman, Shelton, Fondop, and Raglan were not substituted
