Oldham Athletic youth team opened their season with a 0-0 draw away at Mansfield Town on Saturday.
Whilst Latics shaded the best of possession in the first half, they were unable to make the breakthrough before the Stags dictated the second half.
After the defence stood firm, Latics could have won the game in the final minute but Brendy Glackin’s shot was saved by the Mansfield goalkeeper as the game finished goalless.
Speaking about the game, youth team boss Tony Philliskirk said: “Mansfield are the defending champions and they are a big, strong and aggressive team.
“They were a bit older than us and the game was played on a medium sized pitch which suited them and they made it difficult.
"Getting a 0-0 draw there shows the lads have great spirit and determination not to concede. I thought we were slightly the better team in the first half but I thought we were on the back foot in the second.
“Mansfield stepped on the gas and put us under a lot of pressure but goalkeeper Callum O’Neill, who had a smashing pre-season, made some really good saves.
“We defended really well against a lot of set pieces and in some respects, when you’re watching it as a youth game, from a development point of view, it wasn’t a fantastic game to watch because both teams lacked a bit of quality, but it was similar to what a League One or League Two game might be at first team level.
"If the lads make it to the first team, they will get games like that so it was a good learning curve for the players. We could have nicked it in the final minute of the game but on the balance of play a draw was a fair result.
"We’ve got to build on the result. Our creativity all over the pitch has to be better. We didn’t create a lot through clever play or ball manipulation but hopefully that will come.
“It was a good positive start as we kept a clean sheet, worked really hard and showed great spirit."