Oldham and Colchester served up a disappointing 1-1 draw at Boundary Park going into the game on the back of mixed Carling Cup fortunes in midweek.
Oldham went into the game after a 6-0 drubbing against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, while Colchester were full of beans after knocking out Premiership West Brom, 24 hours earlier.
But back in the surrounding of Coca-Cola League One they cancelled each other out with goals from David Eyres and Greg Halford.
Oldham's Eyres stuck the first blow as his side dominated most of the first half but it was a different story after the break as Colchester came out fighting. And Halford's header earned the point which keep Colchester in the thick of things near the top of the table.
Oldham could have gone ahead after seven minutes when New Zealand international striker Chris Killen played a good ball to Eyres in the box but saw him fire his shot beyond the far post from 12 yards.
Dean Holden had a shot blocked by frantic Colchester defending before Eyres and John Eyre both tested visiting keeper Aidan Davison with shots from distance.
It was no surprise when the Latics went in front on 22 minutes after winning a free kick 35 yards out.
Eyre, now aged 40, showed there is no barrier to his quality by smashing his left foot shot past Davison and inside the post for his fourth goal of the season.
Oldham defender Will Haining headed wide as Colchester faced more pressure but the second half saw the tables turned.
Kevin Watson sent in a corner from the left-hand side and Halford climbed to flick his header inside the far post from eight yards.
Another Watson corner was also met by Halford but this time the ball was bundled by Oldham substitute Matty Appleby.
The game began to drift and the only chance for a winner came late on when Oldham's Jermaine Johnson dashed in the box but had his 12-yard shot parried by the keeper.