INIH FORM CONTINUES BUT LATICS HOLD FIRM
BOTH sides tried to take the positives from a draw in which they could easily have claimed all three points – yet were ultimately relieved at extending their respective unbeaten runs.
Inih Effiong scored his eighth goal in five games to put the hosts in front but Mike Fondop’s spectacular equaliser earned parity once Oldham’s pre-match homework paid dividends.
“We’re standing here saying we should have won the game, but to have got a point is encouraging,” reasoned Latics boss David Unsworth after a match which began as a slow-burner and built to a rousing finale. “There’s a long way to go and lots of work to do but it’s a good, solid performance and keeps the run going. I want perfection, I want us to be better, but we’re moving massively in the right direction.”
The visitors crafted the better chances of a cagey opening period, only for Ben Tollitt and Jordan Clarke to give easy saves to Luca Ashby-Hammond from long distance.
Effiong saw a 25-yard drive skid wide but within seconds had given The Shots the lead against the run of play. Justin Amaluzor wriggled into space through midfield and fed Effiong, who sent a 20-yard curler into the net via the inside of the far-post.
Aldershot belatedly grew into the game, and Amaluzor, Effiong and Ryan Glover all went close before the break. Oldham, though, were level just three minutes after the restart. Joe Nuttall and
Corey Jordan rose for an aerial challenge and as the ball dropped Fondop fired a dipping 25-yard volley over Ashby-Hammond.
The Shots became sloppy in possession but were gifted a chance to restore their lead when Josef Yarney dragged down Effiong as he tried to tee himself up for a shot. Effiong’s spot-kick was, as usual, straight down the middle and Magnus Norman stood tall to make a comfortable save.
“We predicted it. All credit goes to Magnus and Steve Collis, our goalkeeping coach. A fantastic prediction and all the homework that we do on the opposition has paid off,” explained Unsworth of the save.
Norman then denied Amaluzor’s angled drive, but Ashby-Hammond was soon forced to produce a superb point-blank save to parry Liam Hogan’s header.
Effiong continued to toil for no further reward, and his 88th minute effort from inside the six-yard box, from Ollie Harfield’s long throw, flew over the bar.
Nuttall bundled the ball inches past the post from Tollitt’s low cross as Athletic pushed for a late winner of their own.
“We were OK but I think we can be better – in the final third we weren’t good enough,” admitted Aldershot boss Ross McNeilly after a fifth game unbeaten. “One-one is probably a fair refection but it does feel like two points dropped.”