Warren Feeney's fifth goal of the season kept Bournemouth firmly in the hunt for a play-off place with a 1-1 draw at Oldham.
The Northern Ireland International striker wiped out an opener by Oldham's Scott Vernon as honours ended even in an open match.
Oldham had to field a makeshift team and their manager Iain Dowie, who hopes to make a loan signing before next week's trip to Plymouth, was satisfied with the point.
It came on the back of two defeats including the worst of his reign at Wrexham on Tuesday and maintained Oldham's home form.
Dowie said: "Three points are always nice but Bournemouth are a good side and the lads did well considering all the people we had out.
"The game wasn't great but there was lots of effort and endeavour. I thought we shaded it on chances and were maybe unlucky not to win.
"We only made one big mistake at the back and it unfortunately cost us a goal.
When you consider the low wages my team are on compared to many others in the Division we are still in a pretty good position." Bournemouth went close first when burly striker Steve Fletcher hammered a shot against the crossbar from ten yards, while Gareth O'Connor was also unlucky with a shot from distance.
But Oldham went ahead on the half hour as Calvin Zola got the better of Carl Broadhurst out on the right and played in a cross which Vernon slotted home from eight yards.
The equaliser arrived on the stroke of half time as Wade Elliott won a free kick 25 yards out and his team used some quick thinking to get behind the defence.
Elliott crossed from the right and Feeney nipped ahead of his marker to steer it in at the near post from close range.
The second half saw few chances, with Oldham's best falling to Vernon who blasted over and Elliott stretching home keeper Les Pogliacomi from 25 yards.
Cherries Manager Sean O'Driscoll said: "I would have been happy with a point beforehand and it's nice to stay unbeaten for another game."