COLLIN IS THE UNITED HERO
AN INSPIRED display of goalkeeping from Collin Andeng-Ndi proved crucial as Southend United claimed a deserved draw at Boundary Park.
A goal on the hour from Nathan Sheron, assisted by the returning James Norwood, was not enough to give Latics their second win of the week as Noor Husin’s excellent finish ten minutes from the end extended the Shrimpers’ unbeaten run to five games.
“It was a tough battle in tough conditions but we had the better chances to win it,” said Latics boss Micky Mellon, whose side remain in the play-off spots.
“Southend made us work hard and the game got increasingly difficult as the conditions got worse and unfortunately we couldn’t take our chances and get the win.”
The contest started frantically with Southend centre-back Adam Crowther producing a fine last-ditch tackle to stop Oli Hammond going one-on-one with Andeng-Ndi, before a smart short free-kick at the other end found visiting skipper Nathan Ralph but he could only drag a left-footed effort wide from eight yards.
Oldham, though, should have broken the deadlock just before the break when Joe Garner squared the ball to Sheron in the area with the goal gaping but Andeng-Ndi somehow scampered from his near post to produce a flying one-handed stop.
Not to be outdone, Oldham keeper Matt Hudson then produced a fine flying save just minutes later to prevent a sweet Gus Scott-Morriss volley finding the top left corner.
After the break, though, both keepers were beaten. Oldham played a long ball forward to be flicked on expertly by substitute Norwood, finding Sheron who this time made no mistake and finished well from just inside the area.
But Latics were not ahead for long as, in the 79th minute, the ball fell for Husin ten yards out and the Afghanistan international sent a sweet volley past Hudson via a slight deflection.
Indeed, there was a sense of justice about the equaliser, as moments before Southend wing-back Jack Bridge was clearly tugged back by Liam Hogan, only for referee Andrew Humphries to wave play on.
“It’s as blatant a penalty as you’re going to get, not sure what the referee was looking at,” Southend manager Kevin Maher said.
“To come here, though, fall behind and still come back to get a draw shows good character. We’ve been doing that a lot recently.” STAR MAN: Collin Andeng-Ndi (Southend) ATT: 6,309 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Andrew Humphries