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Delighted at comeback

Gavin Browne
1/ 9/2008

JOHN Sheridan saluted the character shown by his Oldham Athletic players after they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Colchester United.

Athletic's maiden visit to the Weston Homes Community Stadium appeared to be an unhappy one after Mark Yeates' double had put the hosts 2-0 up. However, Chris Taylor pulled one back with his fourth of the season before Deane Smalley netted the equaliser on 88 minutes.

Sheridan said: "I thought we definitely deserved something out of the game. I thought we played well in the first half and could have been 1-0 up ourselves.

"I'm very pleased with the character they showed to come from 2-0 down, it's very pleasing to get something out of the game.

"I'm glad of a point but we came here to try and win the game. We battled away and to come from 2-0 down and get something was a just reward."

Smalley's intervention in proceedings highlighted the difference in fortunes between two of the club's youngsters. While Smalley took the glory, it was a different afternoon for Lewis
Alessandra who struggled to get his game together before being replaced  by Chris O'Grady.

Although Sheridan's decision to bring Smalley on for Andy Liddell was described as an inspired move at full-time, the manager was keen to play down any plaudits.

He said: "I'm pleased the young kid came on when we were 2-0 down and that's when you try things - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

"We're getting people scoring goals from different areas of the pitch, Chris Taylor has done well for the first goal, Smalley should be getting 10 goals a season, Lewis Alessandra should be getting 10 goals a season. If we get goals from different areas, it'll make it a lot easier for us."

In contrast, Colchester boss Geraint Williams was left to bemoan a missed opportunity after watching his players toss a two-goal lead away.

He said: "We watched Oldham put in a very good performance at Leeds where they completely stifled the way Leeds play.

"The hardest thing against them is to go in front, so to get two in front and not see the game out was disappointing."