A goal of rare quality from Oldham Athletic forward Nick Blackman helped his team earn a point as they held Brentford to a 1-1 draw at Griffin Park.
Brentford had taken the lead late in the first half through a Kevin O'Connor penalty and were dominating proceedings when Blackman struck.
The Bees appeared to have held up an Oldham break - and David Hunt had blocked a fierce Alex Marrow shot - but the ball broke back to Dean Furman and he spread it wide to Blackman on the left, the forward cut inside and curled the ball superbly past the dive Lewis Price and into the top corner from the left edge of the box.
The Bees will feel they should have won the match, they were well on top when Oldham scored having got themselves in front just before half time.
O'Connor, on his 306th league appearance, got the goal from the spot after a penalty was awarded for a foul by Andy Holdsworth on Sam Saunders, the Oldham defender barging the Bees' wide man in the back just inside the area.
Both goalkeepers had been busy in the first half but Dean Brill had no chance with the spot kick, which arrowed into the top corner high to his left.
The Bees could have been ahead inside 25 seconds when Myles Weston escaped on the right after a slip by Sean Gregan but his low cross was held by Brill with Carl Cort and Saunders lurking.
Lewis Price was forced into a save at the other end after a run and shot from Keigan Parker and Gregan headed over.
Weston headed wide for The Bees but Oldham had the better chances in the first 20 minutes - Furman volleyed over and Hunt was forced to clear off the line when Gregan beat Price to a Peter Gilbert free kick.
As the half wore on Brentford took the initiative - Cort headed wide, Cleveland Taylor shot over, Saunders had an effort deflected wide and Hunt volleyed wide.
Holdsworth had to make a fine defensive header as Mark Phillips looked set to head a Saunders cross in and Price saved superbly from Danny Whitaker soon after.
Saunders won the penalty that O'Connor dispatched three minutes before the break and Brentford could have had a second when Hunt shot over from the edge of the box before Brill saved a low Sam Wood volley.
Pawel Abbott shot wide seconds into the second half but Brentford were soon in charge after the re-start.
Saunders had a shot deflected wide, Phillips headed over and Weston had a shot deflected wide.
But Blackman shot his superb equaliser in the 52nd minute and Oldham were level.
Brentford sought a second goal - James Wilson headed over from close range under pressure from Gilbert and an O'Connor shot looked to be arrowing towards the top corner before Gregan blocked.
Weston had a shot saved by Brill soon after before Abbott missed the chance of the afternoon when he headed a Parker free kick wide from six yards.
Cort had a pair of headers saved by Brill and substitute Steve Kabba shot wide after good work by Taylor as Brentford looked for the winning goal.
With time ticking down Oldham retreated back into their penalty area and were content to hang on for a point.
They almost won it when Parker escaped on the left and rounded Price but his shot went across the face of goal.
And try and Brentford might they could not find a way through so had to settle for a draw.
Brentford: Price; Foster, Phillips, Wilson, Wood; Taylor, O'Connor, Hunt, Saunders; Weston (sub Kabba 71 mins), Cort
Subs (not used): Bull, Franks, Osborne, Bean, Wilson, Legge
Oldham Athletic: Brill; Holdsworth, Hazell, Gregan, Gilbert; Parker, Furman, Marrow; Whitaker; Blackman (sub Lee 86 mins), Abbott
Subs (not used):Kazimierczak, Brooke, Rowney, Bembo-Leta, Kalnoki-Kis, McGrath
Attendance: 5,125 (245 away fans)
By Chris Wickham
