Both sides had to settle with a point in a goalless encounter where both teams had chances to secure the win in a game of two halves.

After a downpour leading up to the game the fixture was a dry but blistering cold afternoon at Vale Park and it would be the hosts who started the brighter with Jake Taylor missing from only a few yards out on the 4^th minute. His shot trickling past the post after the ball bounced into his path from the right.

Dino Maamria named an unchanged starting XI for the first time and his side would respond five minutes later with their first meaningful chance as Jonny Smith’s cross on the left was put in with power and direction but Scott Brown in the Vale goal collected at his near post.

Port Vale tried to respond again by the electric Jonny Smith on the left wing sprinted back to clear the danger as Amoo drove into space.

On the 20-minute mark Latics would have two chances to take the lead. The first fell to Azankpo in the box but his shot was deflected with Hamer’s resulting cross over hit.

Zeus De la Paz would be called into action minutes later as Bennett headed the ball back into the box Nathan Smith chested the ball down before hitting it hard and low in the centre of the goal. The Curacao keeper’s instinctive save would the first of handful to keep the score line goalless in the opening half.

The next chance for Athletic would come on the 34^th minute when Chris McCann’s shot from range just flew over the goal after Jonny Smith countered after being gifted the ball from a Vale free-kick.

John Askey’s side who were unbeaten at home so far this season came again through Amoo, his free header being tipped around the post on the 40-minute mark.

Seconds later and De la Paz prevented a succession of corner kicks, saving the short corner routine with his feet at the near post before punching the next away.

The final bit of action came through former Latic Cristian Montano. His driving run from left back meant De la Paz had to get down low to tip another fierce effort around his right-hand post.

Oldham came out in the second-half the better with Tom Hamer having two shots in the first five minutes. His second being a well hit volley from a corner routine that fell into the hands of the Vale keeper.

Limiting the home side to half chances in the second period, the next notable chance for Maamria’s team was on the 55^th minute when Azankpo dragged his shot wide, narrowly missing the post across the goal after Missilou did well to find the Benin strike in space.

Ten minutes before the end Oldham captain David Wheater nearly put the ball in his own net but had to make a decision to clear the danger before the home side took advantage.

Young striker Lewis McKinney came on in the 81^st minute but neither side could find that all important cutting edge to put the ball in the back of the net.

As the game came to a close, Missilou had the final noteworthy chance of the game but sliced his effort wide after good attacking play down the right between substitute Chris Eagles and Azankpo.

Both sides continued to exchange attacks and possession in a game where both sets of fans would feel frustrated at not taking advantage and getting the three points.

Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Joyce, Legge, Montano, N.Smith, Taylor (58' Atkinson), Browne, Amoo, Burgess (76' Pope), Bennett (76' Cullen).

Oldham Athletic: De la Paz, Iacovitti, Stott, Morais (85' Eagles), Wilson (81' McKinney), Missilou, Azankpo, McCann, J.Smith, Wheater, Hamer.

Attendance: 4,301 (505 Latics)

Referee: Robert Lewis