United 0
Oldham 0
Match Sponsor:
Thea Bristow
United began the season with a goalless draw against Oldham Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
Despite chances for both sides, it ran out a stalemate, with the two teams battling hard, but forced to share the points.
Gary Johnson’s men began the game brightly, and went close inside 4 minutes, when a free kick from 15 yards outside the Oldham box, was chipped up by Kieron Evans, and headed down by Ali Omar, before Stoke City loanee Will Goodwin’s volley was denied by the underside of the crossbar, and subsequently cleared.
Four minutes later however, it was United who again went close, with Goodwin driving a low-effort on target, forcing Magnus Norman to save.
In the 13th minute it was the visitors who threatened to break the deadlock when an awkward bounce forced United’s back-line to retreat, but a combination of Dylan Crowe, and Ben Wyatt was enough to force Jack Stobbs to shoot wide of the right-hand post.
One minute later it was Gary Johnson’s men who went close. Brett McGavin tried to play Corie Andrews through on goal, but the striker, under pressure from the Oldham goalkeeper, could only stretch to get an effort just wide.
On 24 minutes, United had work to do to deny Oldham. A great save by Mark Halstead denied Ben Tollitt, before a follow-up effort by Chris Porter was cleared by Ali Omar.
A period of end-to-end play pursued, with few clear-cut chances for either side. However it was just before the interval, that it was Johnson’s side who went close once more. From a free kick midway inside the United half, Evans drilled an effort on target, forcing Norman into action to get down to make the save.
After a quiet opening five minutes of the second half, it was Oldham who piled on the pressure for the following five minutes. In the 53rd minute they went close through Tollitt, whose low-driven effort was deflected, but well saved by United’s no.1.
In the 69th minute, the hosts threatened through substitute Mike Fondop whose volley looked certain to be heading goal-ward, but drifted just wide of the left-hand post. Four minutes later the visitors were down to ten men, after Gardner was given his marching orders, after a late challenge on Dean Moxey saw Oldham’s no.8 shown a second yellow card, after his first 18 minutes earlier.
The stalemate continued until the final whistle, with both teams searching for the final ball to snatch the points, but with end-to-end play forcing a share of the points.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Dylan Crown, 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall, 7. Ryan Hanson, 10. Corie Andrews (18. Olaf Koszela 18′, 8. Asa Hall 76′), 11. Kieron Evans (17. Nathaniel-George HT’), 14. Brett McGavin, 15. Ben Wyatt, 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey (c)
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 23. Ollie Tomlinson
Yellow Cards: Omar 30′, Marshall 50′ McGavin 67′, Wyatt 71′
Oldham: 19. Magnus Norman, 2. Jordan Clarke, 3. Zaine Frank-Angol, 4. Liam Hodge (c), 7. Jack Stobbs, 8. Dan Gardener, 9. Chris Porter (20. Mike Fondop 60′), 11. Hallam Hope (29. Junior Luamba 89′), 14. Nathan Sheron, 16. Charlie Cooper, 18. Ben Tollitt (5. Harrison McGahey 79′).
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Jayson Leutwiler, 10. Luke Burgess.
Yellow Cards: Hogan 43′, Gardner 55′, 73′
Red Card: Gardner 73′
Attendance: 3,690 (827 away)