Too many let-downs to succeed — Naylor

NOT HAPPY: Oldham coach Scott Naylor.

NOT for the first time this season Scott Naylor didn’t mince his words in post-match criticism of his Oldham side.

He said a 40-14 pasting in one of the most important games of the season was “totally unacceptable”.

A win at Gateshead would have gone a long way to securing second place in the league for Roughyeds. That fate is no longer in Oldham’s hands. Though still possible, second-placed Hunslet would have to lose at bottom club South Wales Scorpions in their final match.

Said the visibly-stunned Naylor: “This is bitterly disappointing and extremely frustrating. Fans spend a lot of hard-earned money to come and support us and the players need to realise that.

“Some of the boys had a real dig and tried hard, but too many of them let themselves down.

“It’s not the first time this season we’ve played like this and it’s unbelievably frustrating because, in the main, we are not getting beaten by better teams, we are getting well beaten because we don’t turn up and play to our full potential.

“We usually respond well after a performance like this, but we have played poorly in another big game and have missed a golden opportunity to get a toehold on second place.

“It seems likely that we’ll now have to face a more difficult task with an away game first up instead of a home game.”