A LATE penalty from stand-in skipper Dan Gardner rescued a draw for Latics as Frankie Bunn picked up his first point as manager in a hard-fought tussle in deepest Gloucestershire.

Former Athletic striker Reuben Reid put the home side in front on 22 minutes when he capitalised on hesitancy in the visitors’ defence - 17-year-old Sam Graham losing his footing - to fire a low shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box. 

This was a new low at The New Lawn . . . and the same old problems which would frustratingly persist. 

No final ball, nothing up front and lack of ideas in the final third. Sound familiar?

Bunn was forced into two changes through injury with frontmen Ishmael Miller and Sam Surridge missing out – Chris O’Grady came in to play as a lone striker with Gevaro Nepomuceno slotting into midfield.

Youth team products Jamie Stott, Jay Sheridan and young centre-back Harry Norris were on the bench, meaning five such scholars made the matchday squad (Edmundson and Hamer the other two).

Bare bones springs to mind.

Aside from an early Gardner free-kick which went into orbit, Athletic didn’t muster a single shot on goal in the whole of the first half. You read it right.

Something had to change.

At least when the nowhere-near fully fit Jose Baxter was thrust into the action for Giles Coke at half time (tells you how desperate it was) Athletic looked markedly brighter.

Although still not threatening Robert Sanchez in the Rovers goal - he might as well have set up a deck chair with a vegan delicacy in one hand (they're mad on that stuff here), such was Athletic's malaise when it came to dipping their toes in the water going forward.

Bunn’s men were at least taking better care of the ball . . . it had been a hot potato thus far. All, however, without a cherry on the cake and a distinct lack of service from the flanks.

Things weren't looking too tasty until a fortunate breakthrough finally arrived on 78 minutes.

Why Sanchez hauled down dangerman Baxter in the box will remain a mystery. The 844-strong army of die-hard travelling fans didn't much care.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. A lifebelt had been launched Latics' way.

Up stepped Gardner to bury it low into the corner. What a blessed relief.

There were more than a few nervy moments though after that.

It was "a game of poker" transfer-wise, according to Bunn as he chased targets this week. And Athletic didn't know whether to stick or twist on the pitch.

Forest Green had the ball in the net in the closing stages only for a linesman’s flag to rule out an almighty scrambled effort. A foul on goalkeeper Daniel Iversen the official call.

It wasn’t easy on the eye, and Iversen came to Latics' rescue on more than one occasion - mainly from another Latics old boy in Carl Winchester.

Maybe when the likes of Clarke,Cameron Dummigan, Taylor, a fully-fit Baxter - and of course Jack (being dealt with in-house) Byrne are in the mix, it will be different.

A goalscorer would be nice . . . and someone to whip it in. We can but dream.

As it stands, there's very little to choose from last season - except it's the fourth division - and the goalkeeper was man of the match . . . at Forest Green Rovers.

Latics: Iversen 8, Edmundson 6, Hunt 6, Graham 6, Hamer 6, Gardner 7, Nepomuceno 6, Coke 6 (Baxter 46, 7), Missilou 6 (Maouche 56, 6), Branger-Engone 6, O’Grady 6. Subs (not used): De La Paz, Benteke, Stott, Sheridan, Norris. Booked: Gardner, Iversen, Nepomuceno.

Forest Green: Sanchez, Shephard, James (Grubb 79), Rawson, Winchester, Doidge, Brown (Digby 66), Williams (Archibald 74), Gunning, Mills, Reid. Subs: Montgomery, Collins, Grubb, Campbell, Hollis. Booked: Reid, Williams.

Attendance: 2,759 (844 away).

Referee: Darren Drysdale.