Gary Ablett included David Poole and Gianluca Havern in his first starting eleven.

A third former Hatter, Adam Griffin, was amongst the seven substitutes.

County started the game defending the Rochdale Road End where around 2,000 Hatters fans were basking in the sun.

And the Blue & White Army were encouraged by County's start. With Paul Turnbull protecting the back four superbly Latics were restricted to speculative shots from the edge of the box.

But it was fully 38 minutes before Owain Fon Williams was called into serious action when he dived to his left to turn Keigan Parker's angled drive around the post.

Latics were also in control defensively with Sean Gregan and Rueben Hazell keeping a tight reign on Peter Thompson.

The Hatters only effort of the first half came on 14 minutes but Carl Baker's effort was well wide.

Latics started the second half brightly and in the opening seven minutes Dean Furman twice came close.

He hit his first chance wide after getting the better of Michael Rose but County needed a fine close-range save to keep out the second.

Just after the hour the Welshman denied Furman again when he somehow got down and held his low volley that flew through a crowd of players.

The Hatters relieved the pressure with a header from Johnny Mullins that was eventually cleared after an almighty scramble in the Oldham box.

And nine minutes the end County created another opportunity when they released Danny Pilkington down the right; unfortunately he couldn't find Peter Thompson with his pull back.

A minute later Oldham could have had a penalty when Rose blocked Pawel Abbott's shot with his arm; County, though, were incensed that play wasn't stopped earlier in the move when Darren Bayfield left his foot in on Mullins.

Just afterwards Danny Whittaker's cross from the leff took out Fon Williams and looked to be heading for the top corner until Havern popped up in the six-yard box to head clear.

Greg Tansey tested Dean Brill with a 20-yard drive in the dying seconds but the final word belonged to Fon Williams when he saved from Abbott.