Charles Vernam denied several times as Grimsby are held by Oldham

There was no Boxing Day classic at Blundell Park as Grimsby and Oldham played out a goalless draw.

Coming off a hat-trick in his last game, Michael Mellon tested Grimsby’s emergency loan goalkeeper Jackson Smith with a rasping effort inside the first minute.

The hosts then had the ball in the back of the net in the third minute as Kieran Green headed in Harvey Rodgers’ cross, but the former was flagged for offside.

Charles Vernam forced a diving save from Matthew Hudson, cutting back onto his weaker left foot after receiving Green’s crossfield pass.

In the second half, with few opportunities, Kai Payne fired just over with a volley from inside the area as Oldham looked to nick the three points on the road.

Vernam was then denied again by Hudson as Rodgers busted a lung to cut the ball back across the goal from the byline.

Grimsby winger Vernam was then called to action at the other end to clear Kane Drummond’s shot off the line, as there was no breakthrough in the end for either side.