We twice conceded our lead and had to settle for a point on a frustrating afternoon at Boundary Park.
After a cagey first half, the returning Macaulay Langstaff sparked the game into life with a typically good finish, only for a mix-up between Sam Slocombe and his defence to gift the hosts a speedy response.
We recovered brilliantly and restored our lead through substitute Cedwyn Scott, but when Kyle Cameron was adugded to have hauled back his man in the box Joe Nuthall levelled things again from the spot.
Both sides had huge chances to win it, with Cameron's dangerous low cross somehow not being turned home before Timmy Abraham skied a close-range effort.
But neither could find another goal as the game ended in stalemate.
Having faced Oldham only days earlier, Luke Williams decided to shuffle his pack by making three changes from the 4-1 win.
Scott, who scored twice against the Latics, made way for the returning Langstaff in a straight switch up top, while John Bostock was given his first league start at the base of our midfield alongside Matt Palmer, with Ed Francis dropping to the bench.
Adam Chicksen was also named among the substitutes, so Cameron moved into his left wing back position with Geraldo Bajrami playing on the left of the back three.
We gained early control of the game in typical fashion but failed to create any clear-cut chances in the opening 30 minutes, with Bajrami, Bostock, Cameron and Ruben Rodrigues all either firing off target or seeing shots blocked or diverted behind.
Oldham’s only genuinely threatening moment of the half came on 40 minutes when Mark Kitching delivered a dangerous low cross into the middle without a telling touch, although Aden Baldwin had work to do in injury time as he stood up to Joe Nuthall brilliantly, halting his progress into the box, with the referee calling time on a cagey half shortly afterwards.
We kickstarted the game on 51 minutes, however, as Aaron Nemane did brilliantly to get away down the right before seeing his cross expertly guided home by Langstaff.
Two minutes later, however, we were kicking ourselves when Slocombe raced out of his goal to deal with a ball over the top. A scrappy passage of play ensued, with the ball eventually running free for Nathan Sheron to guide it beyond the stranded Slocombe from range.
Scott replaced Austin in the aftermath and, three minutes later, restored our lead with a composed finish after another Nemane centre, this time after Palmer had done brilliantly to release him to the byline.
We retained control of the game far better this time, with Bostock and Rodrigues both sending efforts wide before Langstaff made way for Jim O’Brien on 75 minutes.
But, two minutes later, the Latics were given a huge opportunity to haul themselves level when Cameron was adjudged to have pulled his man back at a free-kick. Nuthall grasped the opportunity, sending Slocombe the wrong way with his penalty.
The game was anyone’s now and we so nearly restored our lead on 86 minutes when Quevin Castro, on for Bostock, superbly released Cameron to the byline. The skipper’s low cross looked destined for the net, but somehow no-one was able to turn it home.
Moments later we were breathing a huge sigh of relief as a long ball into the left-hand channel caught us cold, with Latics sub Timmy Abraham sliding in at the near post and sending the ball over from five yards.
And that was to be the game’s last big chance as both sides had to settle for a point.
STARTING XI: Slocombe; Bajrami, Baldwin, Brindley; Cameron, Nemane; Bostock (Castro 82'), Palmer, Austin (Scott 54'), Rodrigues; Langstaff (O'Brien 75')
SUBS: Chicksen, Francis
ATTENDANCE: 7,312 (1,249)