Athletic will be playing Division Two football next season unless a miracle happens. They could only manage a lucky 2-2 draw with Cambridge, a team who have not won away all season and have only taken five points on their travels. The Latics were always going to be up against it when Darren Sheridan (pictured) was sent off after 26 minutes when he used his elbow after he was fouled. Cambridge took the lead in the 37th. minute after a corner was punched out by Andy Goram. The punch fell nicely for Ashbee who hit a 16-yard deflected drive
through the Athletic defence for the opener. From that point the “U's”, fighting for their Second Division lives, sniffed the possibility of causing an upset and were aided by an out of sorts Latics defence. Oldham did draw level in injury time though through Holden who headed in from a David Eyres corner.
Cambridge made it 1-2 after 56 minutes when the referee appeared to be the only person at Boundary Park who saw Dele Adebola handle the ball. A harsh penalty which was confidently finished by Gutteridge who placed the ball well to the right of Goram who dived the right way but could do nothing about it.
Athletic pushed forward for the equaliser and at one stage Goram was the only player not in attack! Cambridge packed their defence with every player back and would have boarded the goal if they could have found the wood. It looked like Cambridge would achieve their elusive first away win until the unlikely Holden found the net again following a goalmouth scramble. The remarkable finish came six minutes into stoppage time and it must have felt like a dagger had been driven through the hearts of the Cambridge team and supporters.
Mick Wadsworth commenting said, “We did a lot of things badly but others were fantastic and the players showed great spirit. It's always tough to come from behind, which we did twice, and we also had to overcome some very dubious refereeing decisions. We made it hard for ourselves by having Darren sent off. He says it wasn't intentional but his record this year is unacceptable anyway. He let himself down, as well as me and the supporters, and must start thinking about the team a lot more.”