A dramatic equaliser from Byron Moore with just two minutes remaining saw Crewe Alexandra grab what could be a vital point in our quest to remain in League One. Moore kept his composure to slot home his fourth goal of the season after the Oldham defence had left him alone at the far post as Sean Gregan went up to challenge substitute Shaun Miller in the air. Crewe also created another chances to have picked up all three points with both Clayton Donaldson and Calvin Zola missing good chances in both halves.
Crewe had fallen behind in the first half to a Ruben Hazell header, created superbly by Dean Smalley, after Marlon Broomes had slipped at the cruical moment.
Gudjon Thordarson made one change from the side that were held at home by Hartlepool United on Saturday, with winger Byron Moore returning to the starting line-up for youngster Scott McManus.
Anthony Elding returned to the squad following the conclusion of his three-month spell at Lincoln City. Shaun Miller also returned to the matchday squad after missing out on Saturday, which meant there was no place on the substitutes bench for Tom Pope or Joel Grant.
Oldham were on the front foot from the first whistle with their central defender Ruben Hazell flashing a volley over John Ruddy's crossbar after an initial corner from Danny Whittaker was headed to the edge of our box by Marlon Broomes.
Crewe's first half chance arrived after only five minutes at a sunny Boundary Park. After Sean Gregan had nudged Calvin Zola off balance some 25 yards from the Oldham goal, Billy Jones whipped over one of his trademark free-kicks, but the advanced Dennis Lawrence just couldn't apply a firm enough touch with his head.
After 9 minutes, Crewe conjured up the first real chance of the afternoon when Zola did exceptionally well to preserve possession inside a crowded penalty area. His lay-off found the supportive Gylfi Sigurdsson just outside the six yard box but the Icelander just couldn't keep his shot down.
Moments later, Clayton Donaldson should have possibly done better at the far post after a corner from Billy Jones had by-passed everybody.
Oldham's lively winger Chris Taylor almost gave the home side the lead after a clever one-two with the former Manchester United youngster Kieran Lee, but like Sigurdsson just minutes before him, he couldn't keep his shot down enough to test Ruddy. Two minutes later though the Crewe keeper was called into action to make a straight forward save from the former Port Vale man Danny Whittaker.
After 21 minutes, Crewe Alexandra played themselves into trouble when trying to clear our defensive lines and Deane Smalley so nearly connected with a far post cross from Steve Kabba, who had reacted quickest to a loose ball after a shot from Taylor had struck the body of the Crewe skipper Baudet. Smalley launched himself at the cross but just couldn't apply a connection to really trouble Ruddy. In the early exchanges it was case of close but not close enough to breaking the deadlock from either side.
Just after the half an hour mark, Donaldson wasted a golden opportunity to give Crewe the lead after Zola had flicked on a goal kick from Ruddy into his path. Neil Eardley had switched off and Donaldson was in behind the Oldham full-back but he could only lift his shot wastefully over Greg Fleming's cross bar.
That miss came back to haunt us just ten minutes later. Marlon Broomes was rather unfortunate to slip at the crucial moment inside the box, which allowed Smalley to compose himself and clip a perfect cross for the unmarked Hazell to climb highest and head past a helpless Ruddy. After the goalscorer drifted off to celebrate, the Alex players quickly surrounded the referee to protest and Baudet was booked for dissent.
Crewe tried to respond before the half-time break and full back John Brayford did force Fleming into a full stretched save after Danny Woodards had found him in space on the edge of the Latics penalty area. The Oldham stopper did enough to tip it around the post for a late corner from which Baudet was unfortunate to see his header cleared from the line after he out jumped the Oldham keeper at the far post.
Just four minutes into the second half, Oldham so nearly doubled their lead after Eardley drilled over a dangerous cross and after Baudet had cleared it superbly from the line, Steve Kabba really should have directed his reaction header into the empty net. Fortunately, for the Alex the chance did arrive at the on-loan striker from Watford rather quickly and he was unable to adjust himself accordingly for an easy goal.
Almost immediately, Sigurdsson struck a well placed free-kick a couple of yards wide of Fleming's left hand post after the Icelandic teenager had been tripped some 20 yards from goal.
Just before the hour mark, Gudjon Thordarson made his first change of the afternoon, replacing the tiring Donaldson for the fresh legs of Shaun Miller. The Alex youngster soon had a half chance via a Sigurdsson corner but in fairness the initial header from Lawrence came at him awfully quickly and he couldn't direct it on target.
From another dead ball situation, Zola should have drawn Crewe level after he came on to a deep delivery from Billy Jones. Zola side-footed his effort into the side netting. He should have scored.
That miss prompted another change from Thordarson with Scott McManus replacing Baudet, who has been struggling with a hamstring strain of late. Crewe went to four at back with McManus taking up a left midfield role.
Oldham's boss Joe Royle also made a change for his forward line with Matty Wolfenden replacing the hard working Kabba. Kevin Maher also came on for Kieran Lee.
With just 20 minutes left on the clock, Crewe had their penalty appeals waved away by referee Swarbrick after Miller had gone down under a challenge from Hazell. In fairness to Miller he got the wrong side of the Oldham defence and was in on goal before he appeared to have been felled. The referee wasn't interested. There was no need for Miller to go down in that position.
With just 15 minutes remaining, Crewe made their last change of the afternoon with Jones making way for the returning Luke Murphy. Whittaker also made way for Paul Black as Crewe tried to grab something from such an important game.
Crewe continued to press forward looking for a precious equaliser. The hard working Sigurdsson had a powerful shot blocked before Moore popped up with an equalising goal in the 88th minute.
Miller challenged for a long ball launched into the box with Gregan and as the ball broke clear, there was Moore to coolly slot home him his fourth of the season and easily the most important of his career.
Crewe finished strongly but after a couple of scrappy goalmouth scrambles, the refree blew for the final whistle and Crewe had a point.
