Walsall Reserves 2 (Nicholls 61, Hanna 81)
OLDHAM ATHLETIC RESERVES 2 (Wolfenden 13, Chalmers 68)
By Stu Vose at The Banks's Stadium

Rising star Aaron Chalmers capped another fine performance with a goal as Lee Duxbury's reserves picked up their first point of the season at Walsall.

At the age of just sixteen, first-year apprentice Chalmers has already made a big impression at Boundary Park, and the combative midfielder produced another assured display against the Saddlers.

Having already been involved with the first team squad as an unused substitute at Accrington, Chalmers is continuing his rapid progress in the reserve team and earned deserved praise from Duxbury after the game.

"Aaron made his goal by taking the gamble on beating their defender, and then beat the keeper with pure power," said the reserve team boss, who declared himself pleased with his side's display despite feeling they should have come away with more than a solitary point.

"He plays a lot older than he is, and will only improve further by playing with better and more experienced players. Aaron has been training with the first team on occasion -- and he deserves to."

Chalmers' goal -- a powerful finish following a grievous error from the experienced Ian Roper -- provided the perfect tonic after Alex Nicholls had cancelled out Matty Wolfenden's opener.

But it wasn't to be enough in the end, as substitute Chris Hanna snuck in ten minutes from time to ram home an unstoppable header and swipe a share of the spoils.

The hosts will have been kicking themselves after David McDermott and Gylfi Einarsson both wasted early chances to convert with headers that flashed off-target from decent positions, and they were punished when Wolfenden conjured up a typical poacher's goal to open the scoring.

Gary McDonald's ball into the box wasn't cleared by the Walsall defence, and Wolfenden turned on a sixpence to scoop the loose ball low into Bertrand Bossu's left-hand corner.

While the Saddlers struggled to create, Latics could have claimed further goals through the returning Lewis Alessandra and Ross Thaker, who shot just wide after cleverly ghosting in past a hesitant defence to meet Paul Black's deep cross.

But Walsall did manage something just before the break, when Troy Deeney saw a goal ruled out for a foul and reserve debutant Josh Ollerenshaw did well to claim David McDermott's tricky cross-shot.

The home side made a stronger start to the second period, but it was Latics who had the best early chance when Neal Trotman and Matty Wolfenden supplied the ammunition for Alessandra, who swept a snapshot into the side-netting from an acute angle.

Einarsson came close with a strong header from a set-piece for the home side, while Deeney was off-target after Chalmers' short ball allowed the striker a free run on goal. The Saddlers were getting closer, and levelled when Alex Nicholls latched onto David McDermott's feed and cut inside before hitting a low shot inside the near post.

Then Ollerenshaw did well to stick out a hand to deny Joao Batista Mawete one-and-one as the home side turned the screw, but then Chalmers popped up to bag a second out of the blue seven minutes later to deflate the home side.

The tenacious midfielder caught Roper dallying, nipping the ball off the defender's toes before striding forward and lashing a shot beyond an exposed Bossu for his first goal for the reserve side.

Still the hosts came forward, and Einarsson and left back Netan Sansara both had half chances -- the latter denied by a superb late sliding tackle from John Thompson to the left of goal.

But Latics repelled the threats and looked to be on their way to three points before substitute Chris Hanna rose highest to meet Sansara's pinpoint cross and ensure a share of the spoils.

Speaking post-match, coach Lee Duxbury felt his side should have racked up Latics' second win at the Banks's Stadium this season, but they have their first point on the board and will be looking to kick on against Bolton Wanderers at Leyland next week.

Team Stats

Latics: Ollerenshaw, Knight, Black, Chalmers, Trotman, Thompson, Thaker (Owen, 46), McDonald, Wolfenden, Alessandra, Kelly.

Subs Not Used: Fitzgerald, Walsh, Edwards, Bell.

Booked: Trotman, Chalmers, Kelly.

Sent Off: None.

Walsall: Bossu, Taundry, Sansara, Davies, Smith, Roper, Mawete, Einarsson, Deeney, McDermott, Nicholls.

Subs Not Used: Quarless, Silver, Cox.

Booked: Davies, McDermott.

Sent Off: None.

Referee: Mr A Watts
Assistant: Mr A Bingham
Assistant: Mr M Howes
Fourth Official: Mr M Dickin