Benson targets vital home win

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson is expecting the unexpected this weekend.

York City Knights visit Boundary Park on Sunday, targeting a victory which would not only complete a Co-operative Championship One double over their rivals, but which would also see them move ahead in the table as the jostling for play-off spots continues.

With two teams taking to the field that have changed much since the Huntington Stadium nail-biter, won by York 20-18 in late June, Benson is hoping for a different type of game – as well as a different result.

“We are playing at home and that is a big advantage,” said the Oldham coach, who will trim his 20-man squad, which currently includes Craig Robinson, Paul Highton and Phil Joseph, tomorrow morning after training.

“It is a bigger field than the one at their place and we can play a different type of game on it, one that suits us.

“They have lost (player-coach) Paul March recently, which would have an effect on any team.

“At the same time, we have lost five men since we last played them so you are looking at two very different sides.

“We want to finish well at home and repay the loyal support we have had over the last couple of months.

“We know that if we win this, we give ourselves a chance of finishing in second place and getting a home tie in the play-offs.”

The other big game on Sunday sees Keighley take on Hunslet at home, but without coach Barry Eaton issuing instructions after he was given a touchline ban by the RFL for directing foul and abusive language towards match officials.

Blackpool’s Simon Bissell, sent off for a challenge on Lee Greenwood last week, has been charged with a Grade C intentional strike with the forearm and if found guilty will be suspended for between one and four matches. No further action is being taken against Greenwood for his retaliation.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, Onyango, Littler, Russo, Greenwood, N Roden, Coyle, Highton, Boults, Kerr, I’Anson, Menzies, M Roden, Sykes, Joseph, Goulden, Baines, Lawton, Robinson, Reilly.

o OLDHAM’S reserves inflicted a 31-30 defeat away at York last night, with Chris Hough dropping the winning goal two minutes from time in the final game of the season.