Fondop rescues a point for Latics

Mike Fondop’s second-half header saw Latics earn a 1-1 draw against Southend at Boundary Park in front of 5,622 fans.

It was a result which saw the hosts' winless run extend to five matches as they remain just outside the playoff places in the National League table.

The second half substitute provided a looping header from man of the match Dan Gardner’s right-wing corner to equalise after 75 minutes after the visitors had taken a first half lead, to score his first goal since the opening game of the season.

Manager Micky Mellon made just one change in his starting lineup from last week’s 1-1 draw at Altrincham - Gardner dropping to the bench and Callum Dolan making his full debut.

The first half was mainly a cagey affair with Southend defending stoutly and offering only a couple of early chances to Latics.

Their first came on 13 minutes when Harry Charsley, who had started brightly, saw his short range shot from inside the six-yard box blocked on the line in a goalmouth scramble.

It was the last real action for the 27-year-old midfielder before he went down injured two minutes later and was replaced by Gardner.

There was a further chance for Latics on 27 minutes, but James Norwood’s header from Tom Conlon’s cross went well wide.

The Shrimpers took the lead on 35 minutes from a set piece and their first real effort on goal.

Manny Monthe fouled Jack Bridge on the edge of the box.

George Moncur floated in the free kick and Gus Scott-Morris turned the ball past Matt Hudson into the Oldham net for his fifth goal of the season.

In stoppage time in the first half, Dolan came very close to giving Latics the equaliser and a debut goal when he turned well inside the box, his shot beat the goalkeeper and rattled the crossbar.

Dolan was substituted at half time by Mike Fondop as the manager sought to get Latics on the front foot playing two up front.

The visitors started the second half the better of the two sides, coming close when George Moncur’s shot on 48 minutes was not fully cleared by Hudson, but eventually the Latics defence scrambled the ball away

On the hour Hudson got down well to push Kepple’s shot away for a corner, while at the other end the home crowd noise increased in volume as Gardner fired a 25 shot just wide.

As the game wore on Latics, who deployed all five substitutes, grew stronger, although the away side always looked composed on the break.

After 70 minutes Conlon’s shot was deflected for a corner and from the ensuing corner kick both Fondop and Raglan were blocked.

At other end Scott Morriss’s 30-yard free kick was pushed away for a corner by Hudson

Then Fondop scored the equaliser with an excellent header, giving keeper Collin Andeng Ndi no chance.

For the remainder of the game and roared on by the Boundary Park faithful Oldham pressed forward for a winner, with Gardner coming close with a long range freekick.

But in the end Oldham were forced to settle for a third successive 1-1 draw.

Latics are back in action on Tuesday evening when they travel to Halifax Town.

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