21st August 2018

In an opening 45 minutes dominated by the green and whites, Yoann Arquin and Diallang Jaiyesimi both went close to increasing their tally for the season as Town cut a team full of belief. 

Quick out of the blocks after the restart, Dan Gardner struck the post for the visitors before the Glovers reasserted their grip on proceedings.

Omar Sowunmi came within inches of breaking the deadlock but the hosts had to settle for a point despite moving three unbeaten in Sky Bet League Two. 

Not wanting to meddle with a winning team, Darren Way stuck with the 11 that produced the stunning 4-0 win at Notts County on Friday night. 

Still unable to call upon Stuart Nelson (calf), Shaun Donnellan (thigh), James Bailey (knee), Reece Cole (knee), Rhys Browne (hamstring) and Francois Zoko (knee), Town did welcome back Jordan Green from suspension who started amongst the substitutes. 

After making his return off the bench from a six-month ankle injury in Nottinghamshire, Jake Gray featured in the squad at Huish Park to mark a home return to round off the matchday 18.

Oozing with confidence the hosts got off to an encouraging start, enjoying plenty of territory and possession in the opening 20 minutes. 

Stroking the ball around with real purpose the Latics struggled to get out of their own half although Frankie Bunn’s side did enough to keep ‘keeper Dan Iversen unscathed.

Restricting the Glovers to half-chances and set-plays, a good block from Christopher Missilou denied Diallang Jaiyesimi a shot on goal from inside the box as the home crowd sensed an opener might be coming.

With that feeling still around, the deadlock was almost broken twice in quick succession just past the half-hour mark. 

Firstly, Carl Dickinson’s tempting free-kick was glanced goalwards by Yoann Arquin to force a stop from Iversen before Jaiyesimi almost took matters into his own hands. 

The Norwich loanee glided into the box from 25 yards with a show of neat footwork before drilling into the side-netting as Town edged closer.

As half-time approached proceedings became increasingly stop-start, none less so than when Ishmael Miller – already on a yellow – evaded a dismissal after a lengthy chat with referee John Busby following a late foul on Gary Warren.

With the former striker’s brush with the officials the last notable action of the half, both sides returned to the dressing rooms with the game at a stalemate. 

Having been second best for much of the opening 45 minutes the Latics came out reinvigorated after the restart and almost stole the lead on 49 minutes. 

Clever footwork from Gardner in the box engineered a yard of space and from the angle the midfielder crashed a strike off the post.

Looking to swing the pendulum of momentum back in favour of the hosts, Alex Pattison produced two strong runs from midfield only for eventual recipients Alex Fisher and Wes McDonald to squander the opportunities. 

With the home faithful loud and proud, Friday’s hat-trick hero Fisher tried to turn provider as his cross narrowly evaded strike partner Jaiyesimi in the middle with the Glovers back on the prowl in the final third. 

As the game ticked towards the final 20 minutes, another Dickinson set-piece delivery almost yielded the opener.

Landing a free-kick from the left perfectly onto the head of Omar Sowunmi, Town’s captain could only head inches wide of the target with Iversen stranded.

Chasing back-to-back wins, the attack-minded Gray replaced the combative Sessi D’Almeida in the middle of the park for the Glovers with a little over 15 minutes remaining, but despite plenty of huff and puff the green and whites couldn’t find a way to further test Iversen in the Latics goal. 

Lacking their goal scoring boots from the trip to Nottinghamshire the Glovers had to settle for a point on the board after another entertaining performance, albeit moving three unbeaten in the league. 

Yeovil Town: Baxter; James, Sowunmi, Warren, Dickinson; Arquin, D’Almeida (Gray 74′), Pattison, McDonald (Green 62′); Jaiyesimi, Fisher.
Bookings:
Subs not used: Phillips, Mugabi, Santos, Rogers, Henry.

Oldham Athletic: Iversen; Hunt, Clarke, Edmundson, Taylor; Branger, Gardner, Missilou, Nepomuceno (Lang 65′); Miller (Baxter 46′), O’Grady. 
Bookings: Miller 11′
Subs not used: De La Paz, Graham, Hamer, Benteke, Maouche.