"We created lots of scoring opportunities but have to be more clinical," said Town manager Stan Ternent.

"But it was a good point against the best side in the division and the players can take heart from that."

Ian Craney should have added to his slick strike that gave Huddersfield a deserved 28th-minute lead as they held charge, notably in midfield as Ternent employed five across the middle where captain Jon Worthington was rock-like.

Just 30 seconds into the game, Craney got free but Mark Crossley saved with his legs then, after another chance escaped him, the Town central midfield player was denied by Crossley's finger tips.

Young striker Liam Dickinson fought manfully in his lone role up front and was subjected to some tough treatment.

Twice he felt he should have had a penalty during a feisty second half in which referee Kevin Friend extended the number of yellow cards he brandished to seven while lecturing Ternent for his protestations.

Oldham manager John Sheridan got his men fired up after the break and they promptly levelled when Town's defensive wall collapsed and Andy Liddell fired in from 25 yards as Mark Allott touched on a free-kick.

Otherwise, Town proved resilient with central defensive duo Nathan Clarke and Andy Butler performing heroics, former Scunthorpe man Butler particularly diving in to make crucial blocks.

The result left Town with nine points from eight games, nine adrift of their hosts, and they still have plenty of work ahead if they are to mount the promotion challenge the fans were expecting in their centenary season.

Oldham Athletic: Crossley; Eardley, Hazell, Stam, Lomax; Liddell (Smalley 82), Allott, Whitaker, Taylor; Hughes, Allessandra (O'Grady 62). Unused substitutes: Fleming, Byrne, Davies.

Huddersfield Town: Glennon; Goodwin, Clarke, Butler, Skarz; Flynn, Worthington, Craney, Jevons, Roberts; Dickinson. Unused substitutes: Holdsworth, Williams, Unsworth, Parker, Beckett.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Man of the match: Andy Butler.