Benson salutes duo’s role in nurturing young talent

TONY Benson has given his reserve-team boss John Hough a massive vote of confidence in the build-up to Sunday’s under-23s play-off final between Oldham and Widnes Vikings at Whitebank (3pm).

The teams have dominated the Reserves Under-23s Championship all season, Widnes finishing top and Oldham second.

Vikings are the only team to win at Whitebank this year, but by the same token Oldham are the only side to have beaten the league leaders — and they have done it twice on the Vikings home patch.

Head coach Benson told fans at last night's forum: “We might not have much money, but we have a great structure in place at this club and I have total confidence in both John Hough and Phil Costin (under-18s scholarship coach).

“You will continue to see young players coming through and that’s down to the excellent coaching they receive before they get to senior level.

“It’s a massive leap from reserves to first-team level and once we’ve identified a player who we think will make it, it can take months getting that player ready to go.

“It’s a testimony to Houghie’s work, though, that whenever a player steps up he invariably does very well indeed.”

Five of the club’s up-and-coming youngsters — Jamie Dallimore, Danny Langtree, David Cookson, Alex Thompson and Matthew Fogarty — have signed professional contracts to cover next season when they will be pushing for first-team recognition.

Fogarty last night passed a fitness test on an elbow injury and takes his place in a squad that has been cut from 22 to 19, with centre Alistair Williams and wingers Lewis Brookes and Danny Chetwynd the unlucky ones who miss out.

Dallimore (hamstring), Matty Barber (back) and Zac Cotton (knee) will face make-or-break tests

tomorrow, before Hough finalises his 17-man squad.

Hough said: “We’ve prepared well and we’ve prepared for every eventuality.”