Latics were grateful for a point after a last-minute penalty from Pawel Abbott spared them from a potentially costly home defeat against second-bottom Wycombe Wanderers.

There was still a profound sense of disappointment at Latics' failure to beat the relegation-threatened Chairboys and inch further clear of the danger zone in Coca-Cola League One.

That was something acknowledged by Dave Penney as the Latics manager said: "It was major disappointment as it was home game we should have won having taken the lead.

"We should have taken the game on and won it which would have given us some breathing space between ourselves and the teams beneath us in the table.

"We weren't as sharp and as bright as we were on Tuesday night when we beat Leyton Orient. When you are 2-1 down or losing you are always grateful for something like that at the death."

Penney admitted the goals conceded either side of half-time, which turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit, dented confidence but he was pleased how his players perservered to claw their way back to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat.

The Latics manager was also delighted with the contributions of trainees Tom Eaves and Kirk Millar, a 17-year-old from Belfast, who were second-half substitutes. In the case of first-year scholar Millar it was his first-team debut.

"They were a different class and showed ability on the ball. They wanted possession and to make an impact," he explained.

Keigan Parker, who had recovered from a groin strain, won a starting spot in place of the injured Daniel Nardiello, the one change from the team which kicked off against Leyton Orient.

After a slow start, Latics gradually become more of a threat and made a breakthrough on the half hour through Reuben Hazell's third goal of the season. Incredibly, the central defender is Latics' second leading scorer.

Kieran Lee's free kick flicked off the head of a Wycombe defender and fell invitingly for Hazell to nod home from a couple of yards.

Wycombe weren't a threat until late in the opening half. Matt Harrold had an effort cleared off the line by Danny Whitaker before the visitors were awarded a 42nd minute penalty after Chris Taylor was penalised for handling a shot from John Mousinho enabling Harrold to score his 10th goal of the season from 12 yards.

Worse was to follow soon after the restart when Latics old-boy Kevin Betsy returned to haunt his former club with a drive from 25 yards which squirmed through the grasp of keeper Dean Brill. Penney conceded it was a "soft" goal to concede.

Penney bravely threw on youngsters Eaves and Millar as well as Dean Furman for Parker, Deane Smalley and Joe Jacobson who were replaced.

Abbott had a decent chance but could only fire straight at Wycombe keeper Tom Heaton as Latics appeared to set for a seventh home league defeat, a costly one in the scheme of things at the bottom of the table.

However, they were handed a last-minute lifeline when referee Eddie Ilderton ruled Alan Bennett had handled a shot from Abbott who confidently stepped forward to fire the resultnig penalty into the roof of the net for his 10th goal of the campaign.

It was a lucky break as Wycombe were left devastated because they thought they had picked up three vital points in their battle for survival.

Latics (4-4-2): Brill; Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson (Millar 74); Smalley (Eaves 67), Whitaker, Stephens, Taylor; Abbott, Parker (Furman 67). Subs (not used): Aljofree, Black, Marrow, Flahavan.

Wycombe (4-4-2): Heaton; Kelly, Bennett, Hinshelwood, Woodman; Ainsworth (McLeod 84), Keates, Mousinho, Betsy; Beavon (Pittman 90), Harrold (Revell 83). Subs (not used): Shearer, Montrose, Phillips, Westwood.

Referee: Mr E L Ilderton.

Attendance: 3,846