SHERIDAN DISMAY AT BASEMENT BATTLE
OLDHAM Athletic boss John Sheridan was disappointed his side did not see out victory after drawing at fellow strugglers Colchester United.
The Latics had led from the 19th minute through Davis Keillor-Dunn, who converted from close range after Carl Piergianni had nodded on Nicky Adams’ free-kick.
But Colchester rescued a point when Noah Chilvers’ shot from outside the area deflected in off Jordan Clarke in the 52nd minute, as the basement battle finished all square.
“We got ourselves in a good position after getting the goal in the first half and we were comfortable,” said Sheridan.
“We should have gone on and won the game though. We had a great chance with H (Hallam Hope) to make it two before half-time.
“We were really poor in the second half. I didn’t enjoy watching the game and I thought we were scrappy.
“We didn’t use the ball the way we should have and there were too many long balls for my liking.”
Chilvers’ effort flew inches past a post for Colchester early on, as the hosts made a lively start.
At the other end Keillor-Dunn wastefully headed wide from six yards, meanwhile.
The visitors took a 19th-minute lead, however, when Keillor-Dunn swept home.
The Latics should have doubled their lead just before half-time when Hope fired inches wide with only Shamal George to beat, after Christopher Missilou’s precise pass had beaten the U’s offside trap.
Colchester equalised in the 52nd minute through Chilvers, who teased the Oldham defence before curling in a shot from outside the penalty area that took a deflection.
Oldham keeper Danny Rogers made an excellent reflex save to push over Luke Hannant’s snap-shot and Athletic defender Harrison McGahey cleared Freddie Sears’ goalbound effort from near his own goal-line, but the points were shared.
Colchester interim head coach Wayne Brown said: “We asked for a reaction from the lads as you do when you find yourselves 1-0 down in a game of football.
“Their goal was disappointing, because five of their last ten goals have been from set-plays and (Carl) Piergianni gets first contact on all of them.
“We tried to address that during the week leading up to the game, but unfortunately it was a case of our poor reactions.
“We had opportunities and took the game to them, but it was a more even affair than the second half was.
“We got a bit of luck with our goal but I think we deserved that a little bit.
“We just need that killer touch in the final third.”
George 6, Coxe 6, Chambers 6, Smith 6, Dallison-Lisbon 6 (Kenlock 87), Chilvers 6, Skuse 6, Judge 7, Edwards 6, Akinde 5 (Sears 46, 6), Hannant 6 (Wright 73, 6). Subs not used: Sarpong-Wiredu, Tchamedu, Huws, Hornby.
Rogers 5, Clarke 5, McGahey 6, Piergianni 6, Hart 7, Adams 6, Missilou 7, Whelan 7 (Hunt 72, 5), Stobbs 6 (Obadeyi 67, 6), Hope 6 (Vaughan 83, 5), Keillor-Dunn 7. Subs not used: Couto, Diarra, Hopcutt, Leutwiler.