Latics get back into the groove with goalless draw at Hyde

Action from the goalless draw at Hyde United

It was an unsurprisingly uneventful match against Northern Premier League side Hyde United on Saturday as Latics fans got to see their team in action for the first time this pre-season in a 0-0 draw.

After an eventful few days after the players returned from the summer break, with coach Francis Jeffers leaving the club to take up a coaching role in Saudi Arabia and the players resuming intensive training - including a gruelling trip around the Yorkshire 3 peaks - it was the first match action of the 23/24 season when the club took on local side Hyde United on their plastic pitch at the Project Solar Stadium.

The addition of Latics supporters helped the stadium to an attendance of over 1,200 - more than twice the Tigers' normal home gate.

Latics had previously announced the release of nine players and four loanees at the beginning of May and goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler recently left to join Port Vale, with Jordan Windass joining Darlington on loan.

So, it gave the opportunity for manager David Unsworth to look at his replenished squad, clearly strengthened with several new players brought in, including midfielder Josh Lundstram from Altrincham, striker Kurt Willoughby from Chester FC, midfielder Dan Ward, who has come from Gateshead, and defenders Charlie Raglan and Shaun Hobson who joined from Cheltenham Town and Southend United respectively.

And Unsworth made the most of the game by naming effectively two teams for each half, using 20 players in total.

Only Will Sutton and Benny Couto put all 90 minutes under their belt after nine changes at half time.

Hobson played in the first 45 minutes, while Raglan, Lundstram and Willoughby got their first outing in a blue shirt after the break.

The game itself lived up to the typical pre-season friendly cliché with the tempo very much limited and chances and drama few and far between - both keepers were rarely challenged.

Only a couple of points of note for Latics, Kofi Moore firing just wide form 20 yards in midway through the first half and Mike Fondop’s chip just over the bar in the second half.

Latics' next pre-season action sees them travel to Southport next Saturday, before a Tuesday night match at Chorley.

The National League season starts properly when Latics travel to Southend on Saturday, August 5.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.