Oldham boss Dino Maamria praised his side’s character after they scored two late goals to grab an unlikely point and draw 2-2 with Northampton Town at Boundary Park.

The visitors had looked in total control after Matt Warburton scored early and substitute Andy Williams gave the Cobblers a two-goal advantage with 10 minutes remaining but the Latics struck back through Scott Wilson and Johnny Smith.

It’s three games unbeaten now in League Two for Maamria’s men and the manager believes the team is heading in the right direction.

“The draw was the least we deserved, and I thought apart from the first 10 minutes of the game we totally dominated,” Maamria said.

“Everybody who was here today could see the type of team we are trying to build here as well as the character of the team and the personality.

“A few weeks ago, if this team went two-nil down they would have lost three or four but now we have a team who can come from two goals down against a good Northampton side and a team that has been keeping clean sheets.”

Northampton flew out of the traps and gave an early warning of their intent when Warburton let fly from long range forcing a diving stop from Zeus de la Paz.

Moments later they were ahead after Nicky Adams delivered a dangerous corner from the right which reached Chris Lines whose flicked effort hit the post and fell kindly for Warburton, who tapped in from close range.

The hosts looked vulnerable but fought back well with Smith registering their first effort when his shot went narrowly wide of the near post.

Content to absorb the Latics' pressure, Northampton's defence held firm with Filipe Morais' long distance pot shot the only chance of note.

Oldham had a huge moment of good fortune before the break when the Cobblers missed out on doubling their lead when a deep free-kick was headed back across goal only for Warburton to see his volleyed effort hit the bar.

The hosts stepped up the pressure in the second half but with Northampton’s defence watertight, chances remained at a premium.

Town’s back four were superb and slowly the life ebbed out of Oldham's sporadic attacks until the visitors broke and Lines drove forward before finding substitute Williams who finished expertly with a left-footed shot.

With the game all but up the Latics surged forward and claimed what looked like a fine consolation when Wilson latched on to a long ball and slotted home past a shocked David Cornell.

Incredibly it was now all Oldham and with Northampton’s defence in retreat, the Latics took full advantage in the last minute of normal time as Smith ran down the left before his cross looped over the stranded Cornell for an improbable equaliser.

With five points from their last three games, the Oldham boss sent out a warning to any travelling opposition who expect an easy game.

Maamria added: “Today we've scored two goals in the last 10 minutes and that's something we've been working on in terms of the resilience of the team and the personality of the team - we showed spirit and fight and the opposition don't like that do they?

“It's good to see because they've been used to a nice, easy game here where they can win and take the three points.

“Not anymore - now we fight, scrap and we want to reflect that in our fans who travel in numbers and back us all the time.

“I hope the fans saw something today that we're bringing the fighting spirit back to Oldham and that's the kind of team we're trying to build."

Oldham Athletic (4-3-3): Zeus de la Paz 5; Tom Hamer 6, David Wheater 6, Jamie Stott 5, Alex Iacovitti 5; Filipe Morais 5 (Mohammed Maouche 78, 5), Chris McCann 5, Christopher Missilou 6 (Zac Emmerson 82, 5); Chris Eagles 5, Desire Segbe Azankpo 5 (Scott Wilson 67), Johnny Smith 8

Subs not used: Gary Woods, Dylan Fage, Mohamad Sylla, Tomas Egert

Northampton Town (3-5-2): David Cornell; Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Scott Wharton; Paul Anderson (Andy Williams 57), Chris Lines, Alan McCormack (Michael Harriman 80), Nicky Adams; Matt Warburton; Sam Hoskins, Harry Smith (Vadaine Oliver 67)

Subs not used: Reece Hall-Johnson, Egli Kaja, Billy Waters, Andrew Fisher