Allen searches for next step

CONGRATULATIONS: Spindles and Town Square manager Mike Flanagan (left) presents Roughyeds star Dave Allen with his prize.

DAVE Allen, Oldham’s reigning player of the month, doesn’t believe it will be too long before the squad hits top form.

The 23-year-old forward, impressive all year with his strong, upright running and accurate offloads, picked up his individual players’ award for the month of April prior to the Roughyeds’ tricky 22-16 win over Hunslet at Boundary Park on Sunday.

That hard-fought win, a sixth in eight games in Co-operative Championship One this season, keeps Tony Benson’s men on the trail of unbeaten leaders Dewsbury.

It also got the team back to winning ways following the 34-16 loss at Gateshead in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup, a match in which Allen created a try with a sublime run and pass for Danny Halliwell before powering over for one himself — threatening to spark a comeback which didn’t quite materialise.

As far as the former Widnes man is concerned, though, top form is just around the corner for Oldham.

“It is always nice to pick up awards on a personal level but it is more important that the team plays well and I feel that is the case at the moment,” said Allen, who feels he has yet to reach top speed in terms of his own game.

“We were unlucky at Gateshead in that it was just a 15 to 20-minute spell after half-time which cost us the game. Defensively leading up to that match we had been coming up short but we really turned it around and I just couldn’t see them scoring against us again, on my side at least, up until that point in the second half.

“Then against Hunslet, we threw everything at them after half-time but couldn’t get through. The weather didn’t help as it meant we couldn’t play much football, but as I said to their lads afterwards they deserved congratulating for their efforts.”

The next two matches for Oldham pits the team against Swinton at Sedgley Park before the chance arises to take on Featherstone Rovers for a spot in the last four of the Northern Rail Cup, live on Sky Sports from Leigh.

“Swinton will be another difficult game for us — as they all seem to be at the moment — and we will have to try to keep the ball away from Graham Holroyd,” Allen added.

“Then it is Featherstone, which is a big one for us with it being on television.

“Though I wasn’t here last year, it seems that everyone was disappointed not to go up and as a squad, though we look good on paper, it has taken time for it all to come together this season.

“All over the park I don’t think anyone has reached their peak yet but we feel that it is coming and I am sure we will click soon.”