Quality is the name of the game

Crompton Keeper Matthew Wheelton clears from Failsworth’s Danny Allott

IF any evidence was needed to confirm the vastly-improved standards of the Midas Plumbing and Heating Services Oldham Sunday League, then it was here by the bucket-load at the Royton and Crompton 3G as Crompton House Old Boys and Failsworth Athletic shared the spoils in a high-quality Jack Abbott Premier Division clash.
Gone are the days when a defender would lump the ball forward to static strikers – now there is movement before the ball is played.

Gone are the days, in fact, when defenders just lump the ball forward – now the ball is played out from the back.

Gone are the days when getting the ball under control took two or three touches – now it is often one touch.

And gone are the days when Oldham Sunday League football was often not much more than a kick in the park – now there is commitment and competitiveness.

These are generalisations, of course.

The past has highlighted many teams and individuals with rare skill and togetherness and the past should not be disregarded.

But to those from the past who continue to say that the game in their day was much better than it is now, I have to disagree entirely.

There is a theory for this improvement in standards and one of mine is the influence of television and the copying and adaptation of techniques by amateurs from the silky-skilled professionals.

Failsworth Athletic manager Mike Gibson and secretary Graham Speakman – both exemplary Sunday football stalwarts – add to that view.

Referring to the 3G surface at Royton and Crompton, Gibson said: “Just look at this surface, it’s ideal for playing the kind of football we want to play.”

It was difficult to disagree, even on an afternoon of heavy showers and dropping temperatures.

Speakman, an absolute gentleman who goes about his business in an assured, almost auto-pilot mode, said: “We used to play at Mabel Road but we had a few issues there.

“Now we play on the all-weather pitch at the Oasis Academy and you can see the difference in how we play.”

Which raises another question: Are artificial pitches now a serious way forward for the lower levels of football?

The ‘beauty’ in the headline for this piece came from the silky skills of Athletic's Niall Sultan – an absolute delight to watch and surely any manager’s dream with his attitude – and the superbly-taken goal scored by Old Boys’ striker Jamie Hill in the dying stages of the match to rescue a point for his side.

As for the ‘beast’, well that came in the physical attributes of both sides in what was an enthralling battle.

And, although referee Zak Eko may have got one or two decisions wrong, he handled that physical aspect with some style.

I cannot think of a more appropriate outcome to this game other than the scoreline it ultimately produced.

Ryan Lyons volleyed Athletic into a 14th-minute lead and it looked like the end of the scoring when Danny O’Connell levelled matters for the Old Boys with 11 minutes to go.

Reece Lyndon’s sheer strength and determination gave him the space to fire low into the bottom corner to restore Athletic’s advantage in the 84th minute.

But then came Hill’s amazing equaliser three minutes later, a rasping, angled volley from 16 yards that fairly bulged the netting.

CROMPTON HOUSE OLD BOYS: Wheelton, Walsh, Schofield, Flint, Briddon, J Hill, Brown, Ollerton, Rowbottom, O'Connell, G Hill. Subs: Pauley, Miah, Williams.

FAILSWORTH ATHLETIC: J Turnbull, Lyons, A Berrisford, M Berrisford, J Wood, B Turnbull, Lyndon, Marsland, T Wood, Sultan, Allott. Subs: Lees, Morris, Thomas, Shenton, L Wood.

REFEREE: Z Eko.