Latics denied Chesterfield the opportunity to confirm promotion back to the Football League with a fantastic display at Boundary Park.

After a positive start to the match from Oldham, Andrew Dallas was brought down inside the area by Harry Tyrer, before James Norwood converted from the spot.

They made it two ten minutes later, when Dan Gardner got on the end of a brilliant move, slotting the ball past the ‘keeper.

Chesterfield pulled a goal back, halving the deficit going into the break.

Bailey Hobson went down easy under pressure inside the box, allowing Joe Quigley to equalise from the resulting penalty.

Micky Mellon’s team started the game brightly, and quite frankly were all over their opponents, it was no surprise then when Tyrer panicked, bringing down the advancing Dallas inside the area.

Penalty specialist Norwood stepped up, sending the goalie the wrong way from the spot.

Some teams would have stopped there, but Latics didn’t, they kept at Chesterfield, who didn’t look like a side who could clinch the title with a win, and they soon got a second.

Norwood started the move, turning and progressing the ball forward for Dallas who picked out the unmarked Gardner out wide, who wrong-footed the goalkeeper, calmly rolling the ball into the bottom corner.

Latics no doubt would have been disappointed to concede from Hobson’s effort inside the area, but after continued positive chances until the half’s conclusion, Micky Mellon would have been confident of retaining the lead in the second period.

The positive plays from the first half carried over into the second, but Latics faced a big challenge when Paul Cook opted to bring on the dangerous Ryan Colclough and Armando Dobra just before the hour-mark.

That gave the visitors a boost, as they soon found themselves in the final third, with Hobson winning a penalty after going down inside the box.

Quigley converted, leaving Athletic bitterly disappointed, after all the great work in the opening hour.

After coming from behind, after being two goals down, you’d have expected Chesterfield to use momentum to find a third, and whilst it’s true they did have chances - most of which came from Dobra down the left wing - they didn’t control the game for most of the second half, and it was Latics who looked most likely to find a winner.

Norwood and Dallas partnered each other up top superbly throughout their time on the pitch together, and Andrew was unlucky not to get his first Latics goal, seeing several chances saved or go just wide of the post.

Ethan Walker and Joe Garner were brought on in place of Garnder and Dallas to give Oldham some fresh legs in attack and on the wing.

It was those changes which allowed Latics to dominate the final ten minutes, with some great passing play causing Chesterfield issues.

On another day Latics would have nicked a winner, and deservedly so, but they had to settle for a point.

Oldham: Hudson, Kitching, Hogan, Lundstram, Sheron, Raglan, McGahey, Gardner, Dallas, Norwood, Conlon.

Subs not used: Norman, Fondop.

Chesterfield: Tyer, Sheckleford, Palmer, Grimes, Horton, Jones (Colclough, 56’), Naylor, Oldaker, Hobson (Mandeville, 74’), Jacobs (Dobra, 56’), Quigley.

Subs not used: Banks, Grigg.

Attendance: 7,783 (1,682)

Referee: Garreth Rhodes