Latics were forced to settle for a point at the LNER Community Stadium, making it four points from a possible six in the bank holiday double header.
After a sluggish first 45 minutes from John Sheridan’s side, they came out strongly for the second period and a real move of quality allowed Hallam Hope to open the scoring.
Despite a much improved performance in the second half, Oldham were unable to hang on the all three points with Olly Dyson restoring parity with a strong finish in the 73rd minute.
A gate of 6833 including over 1600 vociferus Latics fans watched on as the sides had to settle for a point with both sets of fans probably thinking they could have got more.
The first real opportunity to break the deadlock came in the 10th minute as Olly Dyson found himself some room on the edge of Latics’ box but he dragged his effort wide.
In a first half of little quality in the final third, it was York who looked the more likely to break the deadlock with Hurst in particular looking dangerous, forcing Magnus Norman into the only save of the opening half.
John Sheridan will have been happy to get his side in at the break as the hosts were really getting on top and whatever he said to his players had an immediate impact.
Latics’ match winning hero from Friday night Hallam Hope was the beneficiary of a crisp Oldham breakaway on the left hand side of the pitch and he had a simple finish to give his side the lead.
There continued to be a clear improvement in Latics’ attacking intent and Charlie Cooper came close to doubling the deficit, forcing a save from Ethan Ross in the York goal with his effort on the edge of the box.
A tactical change for the hosts in the 71st minute proved to have the desired effect as less than two minutes later they were back on level terms with Dyson emphatically smashing the ball past Norman to restore parity.
The momentum was with the hosts following their leveller and Latics had to withstand heavy pressure to avoid leaving Yorkshire empty handed.
A free kick right on the edge of the area was a big chance for the Minstermen but their training ground routine was foiled by the onrushing Oscar Threlkeld, who put his body on the line to deny the ball sailing goal bound.
But their biggest chance to win it was still to come, deep into time added on they had a glorious opportunity to steal the points as the ball pinballed around the Oldham six yard box but the decisive shot trickled agonisingly wide of the post.
York City: Ross, Fallowfield, Kouogun, Ferr (Burgess, 71), Hurst, Dyson, Kouyhar, John-Lewis, Hancox, Sanders, Pybus (Greaves, 82)
Subs not used: Boden, Whitley, Duku
Oldham Athletic: Norman, Clarke, McGahey, Gardner, Hope, Sheron, Roberts, Cooper, Tollitt (Stobbs, 80), Fondop (Luamba, 88), Threkheld
Subs not used: Leutwiler, Burgess, Vaughan
Attendance: 6833 (1660)