Roughyeds in bullish mood

A CLEAN bill of health and superior preparation means Oldham go into the do-or-die derby clash with Rochdale on Sunday confident of booking their ticket for the National League Two Grand Final.

While the squad had a three-week break from action prior to the Doncaster defeat, for this final eliminator clash at Boundary Park coach Steve Deakin feels his team will be more up to speed from the off.

“We were sluggish in the first 20 minutes against Doncaster and lacked the cohesion you get from playing week-in, week-out,” he said.

“We will be a lot better for playing last week and with no adverse effects physically, hopefully now we can put into practice all the good things we have done so far this season.”

Record points scorer Mick Nanyn, who was left out against Doncaster, is set for a recall to the centres against his former club, but with Deakin’s belief in the benefits of a consistent line-up there are unlikely to be too many other changes for the visit of Darren Shaw’s side.

Meanwhile, Paul O’Connor was a happy man after picking up four awards at the presentation night.

The full-back scooped the Dave Davenport trophy as supporters’ player of the year, the support group player of the year, the Greentree players’ player of the year, and the Spindles coach’s player of the year.

“It was great to receive each and every trophy and the players’ player award meant a lot,” said O’Connor. “I couldn’t have done anything without them.

“Now I would just like a Grand Final winners’ medal to top it all off.”

The other victors on the night were Danny Halliwell, as junior supporters’ player of the year, and Roger Halstead, who was voted clubman of the year.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, St Hilaire, Halliwell, Nanyn, Onyango, Roden, Coyle, Boults, Hoyle, Sutton, Menzies, Goulden, Roberts, Joseph, Baines, Tamghart, Cardiss, Brooks, Mervill, Littler, Robinson, Hodson.

TICKETS for the Grand Final at Warrington, on Sunday, September 28, will go on sale from the Boundary Park ticket office for an hour after the game should Oldham win.

They will be on general sale from the club offices on Lansdowne Road from 9am on Monday.