Progression is the name of the game

AFC OLDHAM 2005 slumped to defeat in the third round of the Manchester County FA Amateur Cup against a powerful Newton Heath side at their Hathershaw 3G base.

The close season was very much a change in direction for Oldham, which saw Ross Elliott take over first-team affairs after a lengthy and fairly successful spell under Paul Marshall.

The decision to drop into Division Two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League was not taken lightly, but internal affairs and the desire to move in a different direction meant that the club could re-group, with a new home ground on the Hathershaw School 3G on Belfield Avenue.

And Elliott (38), has the same desire as his predecessor to move the club in the right direction.

Elliott said: “We’ve taken a few steps back to try and get where we want to be in the future.

“This is a young side with an average age of 21, and I believe strongly in progression through the teams.

“I am as passionate as anyone about winning, but more important to me is the attitude of the players and how they fit into the team.

“I am sure we will get better as we go forward and the aim will be to get back into the Premier Division.”

Playing against talented opposition from a division higher, it was Oldham who made the brightest start.

Sean Salford controlled a neat Radim Wieczorek pass before firing into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

But Newton Heath’s experience ultimately proved the difference and three goals in the game’s final quarter sealed their passage into the next stage of the competition.

Elliott added: “We were the better team in the first half with nice movement and good passing, but the experience of a higher team won through.”

Twenty-one-year-old Aaron Grattan, who has been with AFC Oldham since he was in the under-10s side, was a shining example of the way the club wants to progress.

AFC OLDHAM 2005: Mawdsley, Green, Tuohy, Grattan, White, Horton, Wieczorek, Burlison, Farrington, Ure, Hilton. Subs: Salford, Cullen, Henshaw, Richardson, Elliott.