Latics bag derby victory

Photo: Alan Howarth

WE’RE ON OUR WAY . . . Rhys Turner pounces to score his and Athletic’s first goal.

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Oldham Athletic 3, Rochdale 0

VERBALS flew back and forth, blood was spilled and there was a goal that was either George Best at his finest or straight from Monty Python, depending on your perspective.

Pumped-up Athletic were worthy winners here - and more than anything, fun to watch again. Two goals from the promising Rhys Turner and a long-awaited one from top scorer Jonathan Forte did the job on derby night.

Turner’s first was a close-range finish, gobbled up after an awful spill into his path from Dale goalkeeper Jamie Jones. Forte’s strike after the interval – his 15th of the season, but only a second in 16 appearances – was clinical with his unfavoured right foot. And if Turner’s second soon after was a work of art, it was as odd as any installation nominated for the prize that bears the same name.

Beleaguered Rochdale had lost three players to injury in the first half, before the ex-Stockport prospect appeared set to dribble all the way through the goal netting and up the steps to the top of the Rochdale Road Stand and beyond before remembering there was a goal to be scored.

Commentating legend John Helm was at the game and likened the strike to one from Best’s archive. The ball seemed stuck to Turner’s boots as he danced his way past pitiful opposition to slot home.

High-achieving Rochdale were left looking at a 6-0 defeat in two games against their local rivals, who finished the contest with 10 men: Ashley Eastham was injured with 15 minutes to go and with no replacements left, Athletic players lapped up their good fortune - as did Dean Holden, who arrived at the post-match press conference with a broad smile and a spring in his step.

And why not? Only a week earlier, Athletic had been pummelled by MK Dons. This was the smooth to go with that rough – and in front of a far larger number of supporters, too.

Athletic’s main war wound was sustained by Mat Sadler. The left-back played on with a head wound that needed stitches, but Jamie Allen wasn't so lucky after a collision between the pair.

Rochdale came off second-best all evening. Keith Hill didn’t care too much for the alleged gloating of Athletic’s players and Connor Brown was booked, after Forte’s goal, for a choice word in the ear of captain Ian Henderson, with whom he had a running second-half battle.

But the sharp comments were reflected by a cutting edge on the pitch and a determination evident right from kick-off. Holden named an unchanged line-up from that at Crewe at the weekend. Carl Winchester’s raid down the right led to Jones being called into action within the first 30 seconds.

Dale had their moments, but Mike Jones hit the top of the crossbar with a 30-yard drive and Holden’s side gradually took hold of the game as casualties mounted.

Quick-thinking from Forte and swift feet from Sadler led to the first goal. The striker’s throw was met by the left-back’s flick over the head of a defender and a volleyed cross-shot weakly pushed clear by Jones into Turner’s path. The answer was emphatic, into the roof of the net.

Luke Woodland almost doubled the lead with a rifling shot as Athletic turned up the heat before half-time, only for the long-range effort to take a lick of paint off the far post as it edged wide.

Hill’s men began the second half on the front foot but always looked vulnerable to raids by willing runners in an Athletic team that played out Holden’s game plan perfectly.

The next goal came just before the hour. Jones swept down the left and fizzed in a centre. Forte’s initial effort was blocked but he followed up to smash the rebound under the goalkeeper.

Turner’s trick came three minutes later and owed much to Winchester’s run down his right. The ball should probably have been passed, but the striker’s instincts paid off by way of a goal that was almost comical.

Athletic let their foot off the gas as the game eased its way to an inevitable conclusion and no doubt Holden won't be overly happy about that. But this was a vibrant effort that made light of eight first-team absentees. It was Athletic's night.