Another week goes by with off-the-field events massively outstripping on-the-field performance after a disappointing draw at home to Eastleigh was preceded by a perfectly observed and superbly choreographed remembrance service.

The club invited the 1855 (Royton) Squadron RAF Cadets and the Royton branch of the Royal British Legion to lead the tributes to our fallen, with the Bishop of Manchester and Bishop Tony Porter reading the exhortation.

With the pitch flanked by current and veteran service personnel, a superb display by the Athleticos in the Jimmy Frizzell Stand and Saturday falling on Armistice Day itself, the service was incredibly poignant as the two team captains laid poppy wreaths on behalf of each club in the centre circle while the Last Post was played.

The ground staff also played their part, beautifully cutting outlines of poppies into the sides of the pitch as well as having special remembrance corner flags for the match too.

Those with current or past links to the armed services were also entitled to one free ticket for the match in another lovely touch by the club after fantastic work from the ever-outstanding Oldham Athletic Community Trust and the OAFC Veterans and Armed Forces Supporters Group.

With Frank Rothwell at half-time announcing more charity fundraising for the next home game, this time for Alzheimer’s Research UK, alongside his row across the Atlantic of course, and well over 200kg of items being recently donated to the Oldham Foodbank, again organised by OACT alongside the club, Oldham Athletic really is at the forefront of the local community and charity.

To the football, and it was a disappointing performance and result, only managing a 1-1 draw against an organised but limited opposition.

The penalty we conceded was soft and it was a shame for the otherwise imperious Shaun Hobson that it was he to give it away, but we were by no means dominant across the game as a whole.

In possession, whilst we had the lion’s share, we were once again very cautious and Micky Mellon repeatedly told his players to get forward and do so much more quickly than they were doing.

Again, that tentative mentality of the squad was to the fore, showing once more that Mellon has work to do to change it. However, we did miss a number of chances.

Alex Reid scored a super goal but missed a couple of other decent opportunities, as did James Norwood, but it was substitute Kurt Willoughby who was perhaps most profligate when right through the middle and firing wide in stoppage time at the end of the match.

And so, it was two points dropped rather than a point gained. A trip to Woking next, and with them only having one win in the League since September, this has to be a real chance for us to get three points on the board in Surrey.