The wait for a second win of the season went on for Oldham Athletic as they were held to an away draw at Vale Park last night.
Latics started well and produced one of their better displays of the season thus far in the first half. However, the introduction of Uche Ikpeazu after 57 minutes galvanised a Port Vale side who had lacked a bit of ingenuity. The 1-1 draw was Oldham’s third on the bounce and the Lancashire outfit are no strangers to drawing games this season. Out of their ten league games, seven have been draws as weaknesses and errors at either end of the pitch have halted any chance of a fast start to the campaign.
Lining up in a familiar 4-5-1, Michael Higdon led the line well for Oldham and saw an early effort flash wide. At the other end, tricky winger Enoch Andoh was giving Latics’ right side of defence all sorts of problems. However it was the away side that took the lead on 35 minutes after a switch to the much desired 4-4-2. Some great chasing by Dominic Poleon forced a corner and a good ball in from Mike Jones was met at the back post by Michael Higdon who wheeled away to celebrate his first goal in the blue (well, red) of Oldham. Vale almost responded immediately as Andoh slid in at the back post only to narrowly avoid the contact with the ball which would have surely levelled things up. Yet it was David Dunn’s side who almost went into the break with a two goal lead. Dominic Poleon, who was a nuisance to the Vale defence all evening, turned on the half way line and drove forward with the ball. His pile-driver from all of 25 yards could only be beaten away by Jak Alnwick into the path of Michael Higdon but with the goal at his mercy, he fired his shot high, wide and not very handsome.
The second half began in similar vein with both sides searching for the second goal of the game but with neither having the ability to conjure it. However, Ikpeazu’s introduction before the hour mark changed the game and almost immediately Vale looked the more dangerous side. Oldham got deeper and deeper and paid the price on 70 minutes when Ikpeazu got his just rewards and poked home the equaliser.
Vale’s dominance increased and their obvious targeting of Latics’ left back Connor Brown was reaping rewards. However Oldham hung on and the game meandered to a conclusion which both sides can feel aggrieved by. Vale’s season continues to float along nicely as they look to have given themselves a decent base from which to build. Oldham on the other hand are still to register two goals in a game this season and, combined with an error prone back line, have one just one of their twelve games in all competitions thus far.
On the other hand, Latics have lost just two in the league so far – the same as table toppers Burton Albion. Saturday’s trip to Gillingham could test that record and defeat there would surely represent an awful start to a season which offered so much promise.
