Hawkes’ Eye for Goal Shines in Oldham Athletic Clash Against Colchester
Oldham Athletic marked their latest home fixture with a spirited display against Colchester United, with Nathan Sheron and Dan Gardner pulling the strings in midfield and Jack Hawkes stealing the spotlight with his constant attacking threat.
The game, played in front of a lively Boundary Park crowd, ended all square, but there was no shortage of drama or attacking intent from Micky Mellon’s side. Hawkes, whose recent form has caught the eye of supporters and pundits alike, once again proved to be Oldham’s most potent weapon going forward.
From the first whistle, the Latics sought to impose themselves. Within ten minutes, Hawkes had already tested the reflexes of Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman, cutting inside from the left before unleashing a low, curling strike that was expertly tipped wide. It was a sign of things to come.
Oldham’s January signing, Joe Quigley, making his debut, almost had a dream start. Midway through the first half, he latched onto a precise through ball from Sheron, shrugged off his marker, and drilled a shot narrowly past the post. His movement and hold-up play gave Oldham another dimension in attack, and it was clear that he and Hawkes were already developing an understanding.
Colchester, meanwhile, were dangerous on the break. Noah Chilvers twice forced Matthew Hudson into smart saves, and forward Samson Tovide kept the home defence on their toes with his pace. But it was Oldham who continued to create the more clear-cut chances.
Just before the interval, Hawkes nearly broke the deadlock. Picking up a loose ball 25 yards out, he spotted Goodman slightly off his line and went for an audacious chip. The ball sailed inches over the bar, drawing gasps from the home crowd.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Oldham pushing forward and Colchester looking to counter. Hawkes remained at the heart of the Latics’ creativity, repeatedly drifting into pockets of space and linking well with Quigley and Gardner. On 63 minutes, he finally thought he had his goal when Gardner’s cross found him unmarked at the far post, but his header was brilliantly clawed away by Goodman.
Frustration grew for Oldham as the minutes ticked by. Quigley again came close on 77 minutes, his deft flick from a corner flashing just wide. Hawkes continued to probe, winning several set-pieces and keeping Colchester’s defence pinned back, but the breakthrough wouldn’t come.
In the end, both sides had to settle for a point, though Oldham will feel they did enough to win. For Mellon, the performance offered plenty of encouragement — particularly the sharpness and creativity shown by Hawkes, whose willingness to take on defenders and shoot at every opportunity gave the Latics their cutting edge.
“He’s a constant threat,” Mellon said afterwards. “Players like him make things happen, and today he was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet.”
With Hawkes in this kind of form and Quigley looking like a strong addition, Oldham fans will be optimistic that more goals — and wins — are on the horizon.
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