Latics 1-1 Colchester United
Match Reports
9 August 25
Oldham’s first home game of the League One season ended in a share of the spoils as Latics drew 1-1 with Colchester at Boundary Park.
Latics were looking to build on a good result after last weekend’s point on the road against a strong MK Dons side. Micky Mellon made three changes to the starting XI from the opening day, with debuts for Jamie Robson and Joe Quigley.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead inside eight minutes, with Latics failing to properly clear the danger from a corner. Oscar Thorn’s delivery from the right reached Jack Tucker at the back post who nodded low past Mat Hudson.
Colchester almost made it two three minutes later, when Owura Edwards went down the left side, cutting into the area, before jinking back getting a shot at goal which Hudson was down to stop.
Danny Cowley’s side were getting a foothold on the game, with the duo of Edwards and Kyreece Lisbie down the left flank causing problems for the Latics defence. Lisbie went close with an effort, cutting in and firing just over the bar.
Somehow the score was still 1-0 in the 23rd minute, after a glorious Oldham chance went begging. A corner was caught by Matt Macey, before the former Arsenal ‘keeper lost control of the ball in his hands. A goalmouth scramble fell to Kane Drummond whose effort from inches away managed to fly over the bar.
Not long after, Reagan Ogle’s long throw caused havoc and Latics again couldn’t make something of a great chance. Quigley’s shot was blocked, leading to another scramble with the ball rolling clear of Latics players in a packed area.
Latics began to grow into the game towards the latter stages of the first half, with Quigley going close a few minutes after the half-hour mark. Some neat football between Josh Hawkes, Kane Drummond, and Quigley down the left saw Quigley with the ball in space outside the area, but his effort was just wide of the post.
The pressure finally paid off and Oldham got their equaliser in the 37th minute. Josh Hawkes’ dangerous ball in looked to going towards Drummond in the middle but evaded the forward and found its way into the far corner.
Latics began the second half with a big chance straight away. Joe Quigley was played through on goal but couldn’t keep the ball under control and couldn’t get a shot away.
Micky Mellon’s men had another big chance minutes before the hour-mark, with Conlon putting the ball through to Luke Hannant who was charging into the area. His shot was blocked by Macey and fell to Hawkes near the centre circle, whose low drive was cleared off the line.
Latics continued to create huge opportunities, none more so than in the 68th minute. Drummond had a shot saved from inside the area that pinballed out to Joe Quigley, whose effort was cleared off the line. It fell to Drummond, but he couldn’t steer the ball home in a frenzied box.
Despite not much in terms of clear-cut chances, it was Oldham who were on top and will feel they were the better side in the second half.
Colchester had a half-chance a minute before the end of 90 minutes, when the ball bounced out to an attacker inside the area, but it was blazed over the crossbar.
Kian Harratt came off the bench and almost found the winner in the 95th minute, cutting inside on his left and firing a shot into the palms of Macey. It turned out the be the last chance of the game with the teams sharing a point in OL1.
Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Ogle, Daniels, Monthe, Robson, Morris (Fondop 52), Woods (Hannant 46), Conlon ©, Hawkes; Drummond (Harratt 84), Quigley.
Unused substitutes: Donaghy (GK), Sutton, Hammond, Waters.
Colchester United: Macey; Thorn (Vincent-Young 64), Flanagan ©, Tucker, Hunt, Anderson (Payne 76), Perry, Bishop (Read 64), Edwards, Williams (Tovide 64), Lisbie (Akande 76’).
Unused substitutes: Smith (GK), Powell.
Attendance: 7,799 (371 away)
