Rooney off the mark
Adam Rooney opened his goalscoring account for Latics in their home Sky Bet League 1 match against Port Vale.
The striker's joy was tempered by an equaliser from Jennison Myrie-Williams.
The striker's joy was tempered by an equaliser from Jennison Myrie-Williams.
Latics made a less-than-convincing start as keeper Mark Oxley spilled a shot from Myrie-Williams and Tom Pope almost gobbled up the loose ball.
Chris Lines then fired over from a free kick with only two minutes played.
Latics created their first scoring chance in the 10th minute, a near-post flick from Rooney (pictured) which flashed wide from a right-wing cross from James Wesolowski.
Moments later Rooney had another chance, this time his drive brought a diving save from keeper Chris Neal.
Rooney had a third chance in as many minutes as he was played in by Cristian Montano only for Neal to pull off a super stop to deny him.
Inevitably it was Rooney who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a delightful glanced header into the bottom corner from Montano's left-wing cross.
Former Latics' striker Lee Hughes and Connor Brown were both booked following a spat between the pair.
Vale, who had been completely outplayed for 20 minutes, equalised after half an hour with a goal out of nothing.
Myrie-Williams cut in from the right and curled in a shot into the far corner of the net, a fabulous finish.
It might have got worse for Latics when they conceded a penalty following a challenge by Jonathan Grounds on Hughes as he burst into the box.
Hughes picked himself up to take the spot kick which was brilliantly saved by the legs of Oxley.
Soon afterwards the keeper pulled off another super save to beat out a goalbound header from Chris Robertson.
Late in the half Latics had two great chances to regain the lead when James Tarkowski's header was saved while Montano blazed over when clean through.
Vale might also have taken the lead when Pope headed over with the goal at his mercy.
Chris Lines then fired over from a free kick with only two minutes played.
Latics created their first scoring chance in the 10th minute, a near-post flick from Rooney (pictured) which flashed wide from a right-wing cross from James Wesolowski.
Moments later Rooney had another chance, this time his drive brought a diving save from keeper Chris Neal.
Rooney had a third chance in as many minutes as he was played in by Cristian Montano only for Neal to pull off a super stop to deny him.
Inevitably it was Rooney who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a delightful glanced header into the bottom corner from Montano's left-wing cross.
Former Latics' striker Lee Hughes and Connor Brown were both booked following a spat between the pair.
Vale, who had been completely outplayed for 20 minutes, equalised after half an hour with a goal out of nothing.
Myrie-Williams cut in from the right and curled in a shot into the far corner of the net, a fabulous finish.
It might have got worse for Latics when they conceded a penalty following a challenge by Jonathan Grounds on Hughes as he burst into the box.
Hughes picked himself up to take the spot kick which was brilliantly saved by the legs of Oxley.
Soon afterwards the keeper pulled off another super save to beat out a goalbound header from Chris Robertson.
Late in the half Latics had two great chances to regain the lead when James Tarkowski's header was saved while Montano blazed over when clean through.
Vale might also have taken the lead when Pope headed over with the goal at his mercy.
Half-time: Latics 1, Port Vale 1.