Shaker after keeper is sent off
Latics reserves produced a display full of character to draw 3-3 against Bury at Radcliffe Borough where they had to play for over half the match with 10 men.Goalkeeper Joel Coleman's sending off late in the first half had a massive bearing on the Central League, West Division fixture.
At the time, Latics were 2-0 ahead through goals from Danny Gosset's penalty and a super strike from Carlton McIntosh.
As Latics had no keeper on the bench, young trainee Jordan Bove had to go between the sticks for the first time in his career.
Suddenly from being in cruise control, Latics went from 2-0 ahead after 44 minutes to 3-2 down after 52 minutes.
Latics needed a steadying influence and found one in manager Lee Johnson who came to prove calm as the 10-man produced a stirring fightback.
McIntosh made it 3-3 and Latics had good chances to have won the match.
Latics took the lead midway through the opening half when Chris Sutherland was brought down and Gosset scored from the spot.
McIntosh soon made it 2-0 with a great finish, a well executed angled drive.
The pivotal moment in the game came when Coleman (pictured) was sent off for fouling Tom Pratt who burst through on goal.
And to add insult to injury, Regan Walker smashed home the resulting free kick from just outside the box.
Pratt and Navid Nasseri scored in quick succession soon after the restart as Bury took control.
The introduction of Johnson helped restore order for Latics who made it 3-3 with 21 minutes left when McIntosh scored with a near-post header from a corner.
Bove pulled off a couple of important saves, but Latics could also have won the game as Connor Hughes twice went close and an overhead kick from Jack Poxon flew straight to keeper Connor Keane as Latics could easily have picked up three points from the Central League fixture.