John Dungworth's Reserve side performed well at the Galpharm Stadium this afternoon but could not find the goal that would have rewarded them with all three points in this latest Pontin's Holidays League fixture.
Midfielder Mitchell Bailey came closest to breaking the deadlock with his second-half drive that struck the crossbar, but the bigger news for Town was that goalkeeper Simon Eastwood had to be withdrawn during the interval with an injury to the foot that he fractured earlier this season. Joe Skarz was also substituted after falling on his knee, but his replacement looked to be more of a precautionary move.
Town turned in a lively first-half performance, getting the ball down well and using the width offered by wingers Danny Schofield and Danny Racchi to good effect. Matty Young was making some really positive runs beyond the strikers and it was one such surge down the left channel that led to Town's first chance after he pulled a low ball back from the by-line towards Luke Malcher after eight minutes; the young striker placing a right-footed effort over the bar.
Some good hold-up play from Lucas Akins on the right side allowed Racchi to intelligently run infield and his good left-footed effort from just outside the area was turned around the post by Oldham goalkeeper Josh Bell on the quarter hour mark.
Four minutes later, an almost identical run and shot from Akins led to a replica save from the Oldham custodian.
The Town right side was proving lucrative, but Skarz was the stand-out player for Town at centre-half. He was strong in the challenge and calm in possession, his brilliant awareness allowing him to show off his full range of passing. Skarz was substituted early in the second-half after falling awkwardly and twisting his knee.
It took the visitors 29 minutes to get a shot at Simon Eastwood's goal, but they then managed two in as many minutes; however, both long range efforts from Chalmers and Kelly were easily claimed by the Town shot-stopper.
Akins then threatened again after 32 minutes, but his left-footed effort from just inside the area lacked the necessary pace to beat the Oldham 'keeper.
One worry for the on-looking Andy Ritchie was an apparent foot injury to Eastwood with five minutes of the half left - a real disappointment for Simon considering he had recently recovered from a stress fracture to that area. The young goalkeeper noticeably pulled up after being hurried into a kicked clearance and after attention from Academy physio Dave Buckby he finished the half, with Skarz taking his dead balls.
Racchi tested the Oldham 'keeper with an added time drive, but it was no surprise to see Eastwood substituted during the interval. With no 'keeper on the bench for the Terriers, goalkeeping duties were handed to Academy centre-back Leigh Franks.
The former Bridlington defender did brilliantly during his 45 minute spell as a goalkeeper, although Oldham Reserve team boss Lee Duxbury will have been disappointed that his team did not test him with a single shot. 'Franksy' impressively punched away a 49th minute corner and made a couple of confident catches from crosses late in the game. In the absence of Skarz, Academy scholar Spencer Harris marshalled the defence brilliantly and coped well with striker Deane Smalley - Oldham's biggest threat on the day.
Matty Young had a couple of efforts on goal from the edge of the box in the second period; one powerful effort that flew over the bar after 65 minutes before a late curler went straight into the 'keeper's gloves in the final minute of normal time.
Luke Malcher rasped a left-foot drive over the bar from similar range with twenty minutes left, but Mitchell Bailey came closest to breaking the deadlock a minute later when he picked up a pass from Akins and rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard right-foot shot with Josh Bell well beaten.
Oldham right back Winters did well to clear a good low ball across the box from Danny Racchi with eleven minutes left with Schofield ready to pounce at the far post in the last real chance of the game.
Huddersfield Town
Simon Eastwood (Leigh Franks 46), Aaron Hardy (c), Tom Jackson, Mitchell Bailey, Joe Skarz (Daniel Broadbent 57), Daniel Codman (Spencer Harris 46), Danny Racchi, Matthew Young, Lucas Akins, Luke Malcher, Danny Schofield
Unused Substitutes: Curtis Roberts, Spencer Harris, Lewis Nightingale
Oldham Athletic
Josh Bell, Rory Winters, Paul Black, JP Kalala, Danny Knight, John Thompson, Ashley Kelly, Aaron Chambers, Deane Smalley, Matty Wolfenden, Ryan Brooke (Ross Thaker 59)
Unused Substitutes: Josh Ollerenshaw, Jack Fitzgerald, Nathan Kilcourse, Chris Rowney
Booking: Deane Smalley 68
