COVENTRY CITY 1-1 OLDHAM ATHLETIC
City:Murphy (GK), Adams, Seaborne, Webster, Christie, Baker (C), Thomas, Fleck (Daniels 66), Dagnall (Moussa 66), L. Clarke, Wilson. Subs: Burge (GK), Haynes, Phillips, Willis, Garner.
Oldham Athletic: Oxley (GK), Brown, Kusunga, Grounds, Tarkowski, Smith (C), Rooney, Clarke-Harris, Winchester (Millar 80), Lanzoni (Mellor 46), Petrasso. Subs: Rachubka (GK), Plummer, Rodgers, Byrne, Schmeltz.
HT CCFC 0-1 OAFC FT CCFC 1-1 OAFC
ATT 3347
Goals Jonson Clarke-Harris 45+2, Carl Baker 71
Referee D.Whitestone
Booked Christie, Fleck, Oxley, Winchester, Mellor.
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Coventry City finished 2013 by coming back to earn a 1-1 draw against Oldham Athletic.
The final game of a year which surpassed lows previously un-thought of, saw the Sky Blues boosted by their 4-2 Boxing Day win over Peterborough United take on Oldham Athletic at a Sixfields Stadium, where no-one ever imagined in their worst nightmare that City would be playing 'home' games.
But due to SISU's kidnapping of the club with ransom of the Ricoh Arena on their terms, the staff and players were sent yet again down the M1 to a town where Rugby Union is seen as a far more important sport.
There might have been fewer people then those who had boosted the gate for the Peterborough game, there was still what passes for a reasonable turn out at Sixfields.
The City support, which included a regular from Germany and some from Canada saw Steven Pressley make one change from the Boxing Day team with Chris Dagnall coming in for Franck Moussa, whilst Oldham included former City youngster Jonson Clarke-Harris.
With Greg Clarke from the Football League along with a Palace scout and the twenty six on the hill, watching on, the Latics who, fielded former City youngster Jonson Clarke-Harris, won an early corner.
Cyrus Christie, the youngest City player to make one hundred appearances, made a great run in the fourth minute and sent over a ball which was pushed away for a corner that was eventually sent wide when Baker drilled across the face of the goal.
Oldham, backed by 524 supporters, were well organised through out and won a free kick for a foul by Christie who was booked for dissent. That led to a corner and Callum Wilson firing across the goal at the other end in the ninth minute.
Four minutes later and it took a brave save by Murphy diving to his right to push away a Kasunga diving header.
The lively Baker swung in a cross, which hit the head of Leon Clarke and went out for a goal kick and then banged in an 18th minute free kick that Christie sent wide from 20 yards.
Tarkowski blazed wide following some good work by Clarke-Harris who won a 23rd minute corner with another following six minutes later.
In the 31st minute, controversy reined leaving the City fans fuming that Latics keeper Mark Oxley was not sent off for whipping down Callum Wilson on the edge of the area.
The keeper was the last man so surely he had to go. But no, he stayed on with Mr Whitestone deciding that Wilson was too wide for a goal-scoring opportunity and watched Baker go wide with the free kick and Fleck, who was battling away, do the same.
That rage towards the referee continued when Christie fired across the area, in the 35th minute and Leon Clarke was clearly pulled back by Lanzoni but there was no penalty.
The City support were not the only ones voicing their opinion and as the Oldham fans found their voice, Steven Pressley was spoken to by Mr Whitestone and basically told to calm down.
Mr Whitestone, who originates from Northampton, continued to be the star of the show booking Winchester and taking his time to call for treatment for Clarke-Harris who went down holding his head.
Two minutes of stoppage time were added on. City won a corner as did Oldham following a good burst of speed from Petrasso who got the ball easily off Fleck and there was Clarke-Harris to head in from four yards and give Oldham the lead at the break.
The antics of the Leicester born forward, who left school aged 13, when celebrating the goal did not go down well with the City fans and he and the referee were booed off by the disgruntled support.
Oldham manager Lee Johnson who looked more dressed for a night in the pub than at a football match, made one change at the break bringing on Mellor.
Three minutes in and Wilson played a peach of a pass to Christie to win a corner. Leon Clarke met that flag kick and fired in a shot which struck an Oldham player. The City fans demanded a handball but nothing was given.
Wilson steered wide before the Latics in their reddy\pink shirts and black shorts, won a 55th minute free kick.
Oxley gave City a corner three minutes later but today, there was no real fluidity and intensity from the City players, as Oldham were changing their play when required to match City's pressing game.
Murphy spilled a Clarke-Harris long ranger but in the 66th minute, the City management decided that it was time for a change and Moussa and Daniels came on.
Adams appealed for another handball, which was not given. The ball went wide and when it came to Carl Baker, the hard working midfielder, sent it bicycle style past Oxley on his right and into the net.
City were now the better of the sides with a great move being ended by Leon Clarke winning a corner before the Latics made their final change with ten minutes left.
Wilson sent one well wide for a City side, which had Dan Seaborne at the back doing well.
Baker had an 87th minute shot beaten away. Oldham went up the other end and Murphy made a great save. The Latics won two more corners but City’s final game of 2013 finished with the Sky Blues taking a point.