Latics denied by late leveller at Crawley

Latics drew 2-2 against Crawley

Latics were denied what would have been a hugely impressive win at Crawley by home supersub Kabongo Tshimanga's late leveller.

Ryan Loft gave Crawley a first-half lead, before goals from Michael Mellon and substitute Jack Stevens put Latics in charge.

Striker Loft put Crawley after 18 minutes with a well-placed shot after a deflected cross from Jack Roles.

Loft had gone close early on and Latics were denied an equaliser when recalled keeper Harvey Davies parried a goal-bound shot from the on-rushing Tom Pett.

Reece Brown should have increased the hosts' advantage before the interval, but his shot from just inside the area rebounded off the crossbar.

Micky Mellon's side began the second half on the front foot and were rewarded when gaffer's son Mellon curled in a beauty to equalise in the 50th minute.

And substitute Stevens put the Latics ahead from close range, running past two challenges before scoring with a low shot.

But Tshimanga made it 2-2 shortly after coming on by latching onto Dion Pereira's through ball before firing past keeper Matthew Hudson eight minutes from time.

The match ended controversially with Crawley being awarded a penalty deep into added time seemingly for handball, only for referee Charles Breakspear to change his mind after consulting an assistant.

After that incident, boss Mellon said: "To say it was bizarre is probably an understatement."

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