County rescued a late draw at Oldham on Friday, through an emphatic James Barry strike.
A bright start from County saw the breakthrough very early in the game. A teasing cross to the far post connected with Trialist, who made a surging run, and volleyed in at the near post.
It was all County after the goal, and Kingston Fligg came close to adding a second in spectacular fashion. A cleared corner fell to the County captain, who let fly from distance, and his effort whistled past the post.
Oldham began to grow into the game and forced a string of saves from Harry Campbell. The hosts worked a shooting opportunity inside the area and unleashed a venomous effort, which Campbell turned around the post brilliantly, and from the resulting corner, a looping header was somehow tipped behind by the County stopper.
However, Oldham found the leveller soon afterwards. After cutting inside from the left wing, a curling effort found the top corner in sensational fashion, giving Campbell no chance.
The hosts then immediately found another. Campbell was caught out with the ball at his feet by the oncoming striker, who blocked his pass and tapped the ball into an empty net, giving Oldham the lead.
County were level just before the break, however. Dallas Omoruyi broke through the heart of the Oldham back line, showing great strength to hold off the defender, before confidently finishing into the far corner.
HALF-TIME: Oldham 2-2 County
Omoruyi had a chance to add to his and County’s tally just after the restart. He drove into the Oldham box and unleashed a left-footed effort, but it found the gloves of the goalkeeper. Trialist found space for a shot in a similar fashion moments later, but had the same outcome.
Oldham took the lead once more with 15 minutes to go. A quick break up the pitch caught County out at the back, and a powerful effort at the near post gave Campbell no chance.
County kept plugging away, and found a leveller with just seconds left. A teasing ball to the back post was half-cleared by the Oldham defence and sat up nicely for Barry, who put his laces through the ball and rescued a draw.
The hosts immediately burst through the centre and looked to be bearing down on goal, but Tom O’Brien pulled the forward back and denied a goalscoring opportunity, which resulted in the centre-back being shown the red card.
FULL-TIME: Oldham 3-3 County
County line-up: Campbell; Trialist, Jones, Scruton, O’Brien, Watson; Barry, Fligg (capt.), Trialist; Omoruyi, Trialist
Images: Mike Petch
