Oldham came away with a point from Marsh Lane having played out a goalless draw with Oxford City.
The first ten minutes contained numerous chances, most of which fell Latics’ way, but none caused the hosts any huge problems.
Oxford did have their openings, however, but they lacked potency.
The game slowed down as it progressed into the second-half, and Mat Hudson was called into action a few times, tipping shots over the bar.
Despite a good string of chances from Athletic with 10 to 20 minutes to go, none were able to beat Tom Watson between the sticks.
The game started optimistically for Oldham; they had the ball in Oxford’s half for large parts, and created a few half-chances from crosses and balls into the box.
The best of these early chances came when Josh Lundstram switched play to Liam Hogan, who turned, but couldn’t keep his shot down as it sailed over.
James Norwood and Hallam Hope linked up midway through the game, playing a one-two off the latter to set himself up in a shooting position, just for Watson to push it wide.
Micky Mellon opted to make two changes early in the second half, with Joe Garner replacing Andrew Dallas, before Mark Kitching, who’d picked up a knock, made way for Tom Conlon.
Those changes came at a time when Hudson was called into action for Latics, as he made the first of a number of good saves.
Oldham made their final change of the match with 20 to play, when Nathan Sheron entered the field in place of Lundstram.
What followed was certainly Latics’ best period of goalscoring opportunities of the game.
Norwood went close once more, bringing down and controlling a long ball, picking out the far corner, just to be denied by the post.
Hope tried his luck too, shooting across the goalkeeper from inside the box, but failing to hit the target.
The deadliest chance of the period, and the game, came from Dan Gardner, who cut in from the left, saw an opening, forcing Watson to push it wide of the goal as it flew towards the bottom corner.
Oldham, namely Hudson in goal, then had some defending to do.
It was through Josh Ashby that a lot of Oxford’s chances came, and he called Mat into action on more than one occasion, especially towards the end of the game, but he was equal to the efforts, keeping the score level.
Oldham: Hudson, Sachdev, Kitching (Conlon, 56’), Hogan, Lundstram (Sheron, 69’), Raglan, McGahey, Gardner, Hope, Dallas (Garner, 54’), Norwood.
Subs not used: Norman, Hobson.
Oxford City: Watson, Burley, Phillips, Ashby, Roddy (McEachran, 77’), Coyle (Moore, 70’), Fleet, Greenslade, Potter (Krasniqi, 90’), Williams-Bushell, O’Connell.
Subs not used: Birtwistle, Kabongolo.
Attendance: 1,112 (662)
Referee: Sam Mulhall
