Oldham pay a price for missing chances

OLDHAM were left frustrated by missed opportunities after being held to a goalless draw at Grimsby Town last night.

Latics dominated proceedings at Blundell Park but were unable to find a winner in what was their first League Two clean sheet of the season.

Head coach Harry Kewell named 17-year-old Junior Luamba as one of five changes to the starting XI that lost to Harrogate last weekend.

Oldham were almost ahead on 11 minutes when Dylan Bahamboula broke on the counter-attack and cut the ball back to Zak Dearnley in the area but he saw his effort blocked.

The hosts then went close to an opener midway through the half, as defender Mattie Pollock connected with a free-kick and sent a diving header straight at Ian Lawlor.

Bahamboula continued to cause problems and found Luamba with a cross just before the break but his shot was deflected over the bar.

Latics continued to dominate possession into the second half, as Bahamboula found the head of Carl Piergianni, however, he glanced his header just wide.

The ever-attacking Frenchman then registered yet another chance with just a minute left to play, lining up a free-kick from 25 yards only to send it into the side-netting. And it took until the first minute of added time to see arguably the best chance of the game, as Jordan Barnett broke through but the Latics winger saw his shot deflected wide.

Salford’s game at Mansfield was postponed due to the weather.