Crawley Town 2-2 Latics

The spoils were shared at the Broadfield Stadium this afternoon as Latics drew 2–2 with Crawley Town.    

The scoring was opened after 18 minutes. The ball came to Jack Roles at the back post, who hit a first-time effort at goal that Mat Hudson had no chance of stopping.    

Latics came out for the second half rejuvenated and got their reward when Michael Mellon hit a fantastic curling effort into the top-right corner.      

It was two on 70 minutes. Substitute Jack Stevens received the ball in the area after good build-up play from Michael Mellon and Joe Garner, and he calmly rifled an effort past Harvey Davies in the Crawley goal.    

They couldn’t hold on to that lead, however. Experienced striker Kabongo Tshimanga was slipped in on goal 10 minutes after coming on and hit a low effort past Hudson to earn a point for Crawley.      

The hosts started proceedings well, having a couple of half-chances inside the first five minutes. Mat Hudson was off his line quickly to clear from the onrushing Kaheim Dixon as he looked to gain space to get in on goal.      

Latics’ first effort came after 10 minutes. Michael Mellon’s cross was parried into the feet of captain Tom Pett, but he blazed over the bar from inside the penalty area. Minutes later, Mike Fondop picked up on a loose back pass from Ade Adeyemo, but he lost his footing at the vital moment, and his effort went wide.      

At the other end, following a succession of corners, the hosts opened the scoring. A cross was floated in by Jack Roles and, after a nick from a Latics defender, Ryan Loft fired home with a first-time finish.      

Latics looked for a quick response. Ryan Woods’ corner was met by Fondop with a good connection, but his header was straight into the hands of the grateful Harvey Davies.    The ball was in the net for Latics when Pett thought he had bundled the ball home to level the scores, but the linesman’s flag was raised, and the effort was ruled out.      

Michael Mellon then flicked on a long ball from goalkeeper Mat Hudson to the advancing Pett, who had a go at goal, but his effort was palmed away well by Davies under pressure from Dion Conroy.      

Hudson had to be alert at the other end and made back-to-back saves, first from Adeyemo with his feet, and then from Dixon.      

As the game entered six minutes of additional time at the end of the half, Latics were fortunate the scoreline wasn’t doubled. A mix-up at the back allowed Dixon to cut the ball back for Kaheim Brown, whose dinked effort looked to be looping in but came back off the crossbar to Latics’ relief.      

The second half got back underway and Latics came out of the traps flying. Kai Payne won possession and had a go at goal, but his effort was blocked and the ball trickled wide.     After a succession of corners, Latics got their reward for a fast start. Half-time substitute Jack Stevens laid the ball off to Mellon, who took a touch and unleashed a curling effort into the bottom corner to bring Latics level.      

However, as the hosts showed in the first half, they remained dangerous going forward. Dixon’s effort had Hudson scrambling, but it went wide of the mark.       Seven minutes later, after Hudson played the ball long, Fondop’s volley was held by Davies.      

For all Latics’ good play in the second half, they could have been behind on 66 minutes. Josh Flint was slipped through on goal but opted to cut the ball back rather than shoot. The ball then came to Forster, who tried to keep the attack alive, but Leake managed to clear.      

Four minutes later, however, it was Latics who punished the hosts. A lovely flick-on by Joe Garner and a delightful touch from Mellon allowed the ball to fall to Stevens in the area.   He kept a level head and rifled a shot into the top corner to give Latics the lead.    

Latics were ahead for just 13 minutes before the hosts brought the game level.  Two Crawley substitutes combined, with Dion Pereira slipping in Kabongo Tshimanga. The striker gained a yard of space and hit a low effort into the back of the Latics net.    

Tshimanga continued to look a danger, and just three minutes later Hudson did well to tip his effort wide for a corner.      

In the final stages, both teams looked capable of nicking a winner. Stevens tried to catch Davies off his line, but he got his effort all wrong and the ball came back off Mellon and away from danger.      

There was a chaotic end to the game when, in the final minute of the six added on, the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts before reversing his decision and booking Flint for handball.      

That was the last action of the game as the spoils were shared at the Broadfield Stadium.      

Crawley Town: Davies, Barker, Conroy, Flint, Adeyemo (Tshimanga 74), Forster, Roles (Pereira 74), Williams, Brown (Holohan 66), Dixon (Watson 53), Loft.      

Subs not used: Wollacott, Bajrami.      

Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Ogle, Daniels, Monthe, Hannant (Leake 7), Caprice (Stevens 46), Payne, Woods, Pett, Mellon, Fondop (Garner 66).      

Subs not used: Donaghy, Simeu, Sutton, Drummond.      

Referee: Charles Breakspear        

Attendance: 3,152 (414)