Mark Yeates will go down in history as the first ever player to score at the Western Homes Community Stadium, but his first and second efforts, the U's had to do with a share of the spoils against league leaders Oldham Athletic.

A Mark Yeates double looked to have given the U's their first ever victory at WCHS this afternoon only for pre-match league leaders Oldham Athletic to rescue a point with just minutes remaining. Yeates' first goal was the best moment of a dour first half, but an improved second half from the U's saw Yeates fire in his second goal of the game. Oldham responded immediately through  Chris Taylor before Dean Smalley's 88th minute tap-in shared the points.

U's manager Geraint Williams made just one change to the side that had lost to Ipswich in mid-week with John White returning in place of Paul Reid who presumably was injured. Steve Gillespie's thigh problem meant he was unable to make the side whilst Matt Lockwood also missed out through a niggle picked up at Swindon last weekend.

Oldham manager John Sheridan had plenty of experience in his side with Sean Gregan at the back, goalkeeper Mark Crossley and midfielder Andy Liddell still managing to turn out for the side. Put together with the youth of Chris Taylor as well as Lee Hughes and it was no surpise that they started the day top of the table.

The game's referee was the ever-erratic P Taylor of Herts. You never quite know what you're going to get from him in terms of football (he has had a few games where he has been excellent) but today he was, unfortunately, far too card happy with seven bookings in a game which was never dirty. Yes, a couple of them were deserved - notably Hughes' effort of Matt Heath in the first half - but several for either side were far too petty. Mark Allott was the first to find his name in the book with an early challenge while John White followed soon after as the game struggled to find its rhythm.

Whitaker saw his shot bounce once before being grabbed by Gerken before Vernon, playing against his former employers, headed Ifil's cross from the left well over the bar from distance.
Gerked was also on hand to prevent right fullback Neil Eardley's long shot from rippling the new nets at the stadium for the first time before Jackson almost ran on to the ball inside the penalty area to create a chance for himself. Unfortunately, the former Spurs man couldn't striker the falling ball first time and by the time he had chance to control the ball, the opportunity had gone.

After giving away a succession of minor fouls, Lee Hughes found his name in the referee's notebook for jumping in to Heath which the United central defender took exception too. It was perhaps the first real booking of the game.

As the half continued Oldham came closest to grabbing the first goal of the game as Liddell tested out the Community Stadium's woodwork. It was a lovely flowing move that involved Hughes and Allot who slipped the ball outside to Liddell but from the edge of the box the former Barnsley striker saw his shot bounce away off the far post.

Four minutes from the break, the record books detailing the first goalscorer at United's new home was finally etched in to history. Again, the U's kept posession well, passing the ball from the left via Ifil to Izzet on the right. His forward pass found Wordsworth further down the touchline and as he crossed powerfully in to the penalty area, Yeates had dashed from the far post to find space on the near. The Irish controlled the ball excellently with his first touch before a right-footed shot across the goal left Mark Crossley with no chance of preventing his side from going behind.

It meant that the U's went in to the break with their noses in front though it had to be said that they didn't really deserve to be. The U's had been one dimensional in attack and had rarely threatened the Oldham goal. Neither wide player had really exploited the wider playing area of the WCHS while to many simple midfield balls had been mis-placed.

Thankfully, the U's came out of their halftime chat in a much better frame of mind and took the game to their opponents though Wordsworth found himself added to Taylor's everlengthening list of cautions.

Yeates fired high and wide after good set-up work from Vernon while the former Athletic man should have scored his first home goal froma corner after running in to space at the near post. Sadly, he failed to connect properly with his header and the chance was gone.

Just after the hour mark the U's doubled their advantange with Yeates' second goal of the game. It came when the home side did well to retain possession, being patient and surprisingly, a good piece of refereeing from Taylor who allowed play to continue despite the foul on Johnnie Jackson. The U's midfielder managed to find Yeates just outside the box and with his left foot this time he rattled in a shot which flew in to the far corner of the net to get the home crowd standing.

The lead was quickly reduced though as the visitors hit back within sixty seconds. Chris Taylor grabbed the goal, twisting and turning his way past John White before accurately firing past Dean Gekern in to the far corner.

Clive Platt was unlucky not register his first goal of the season as he watched his header rebound off the post with Crossley well beaten.

U's manager Williams made his first change of the afternoon as Sunday-Akanni Wasiu came on for the ineffectual Scott Vernon. The substitute almost made it a thrilling home debut but after working some space inside the box, his goalward shot was deflected over for a corner.

The U's introduced another home debutant in David Perkins for Wordsworth after 73 minutes. Platt, a handful for the visitors defence, showed his ability with his feet later as he created an opportunity. His low cross was excellently defended by Sean Gregan at the near post who just managed to prevent Johnnie Jackson from poking the ball home.

A poor defensive clearance from the U's allowed oldham substitute O'Grady to cross but Hughes' flick at the near post was always going over Gerken's bar as the visitors searched for the equaliser to keep their unbeaten run going.

And with two minutes remaining, they got the equaliser that on the day, they probably deserved. It all started with Perkins losing the ball on the U's left and bringing down Lomax which rightly saw The Milky Bar Kid booked. However, it looked to be a good booking as otherwise, Lomax would have been away and surely the U's would be able to defend a free-kick near the U's dug-outs?

How wrong we were. The visitors thumped the ball to the back stick where Gerken only got a deft touch to it instead of attempting to catch it. Hughes wasted no time at the far post to cross low where Dean Smalley converted from close range. In the remaining minutes, the visitors were the more likely to snatch all three points but a late save by Gerken ensure that both sides would take a point each from the fixture.

The U's have now dropped four points at home this season and must soon start to turn the Western Homes Community Stadium in to the fortress it much become if the club are to return to The Championship at the first attempt.

Shot of the Match: Eardley's first half shot fairly thumped back off Dean Gerken's left-hand post.
Save of the Match: I cannot remember either keeper making a seriously good save all match!
Moan of the Match: Cries of 'get it forward' from ill-informed supporters who then moan when posession is lost by doing the self-same thing. Patience broughy the U's both goals, and you must be too.
Moment of the Match: Had Jackson just been able to get a toe on to Platt's low cross at the near post then the U's would now be two points better off.

Man of the Match: Though it would be hard to fault any of the back line today, my MOTM goes to KEM IZZET who I thought had a superb second half. Not only did he break up at least three good Oldham moves (one with a superb penalty box tackle) but he was also pivotal in the U's going forward.

Photo: Action Images

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