Oldham build head of steam

THAT FOOLED YOU . . Middleton spin bowler Dale Highton celebrates after bowling Oldham’s Jason Maher at The Pollards.

RATHER like a racehorse sneaking up on the rails, Oldham have put themselves firmly in the Lake Garage CLL title race.

This most unpredictable of seasons has seen a whole host of clubs stake a claim for honours, but there is no doubt that Oldham are the league’s in-form team.

Five successive victories have thrust them into fourth place, just nine points behind leaders Heywood, while Sunday’s derby victory over Crompton cut the gap between Oldham and their second-placed neighbours to six points.

Oldham skipper Mel Whittle will not allow his team to get ahead of themselves, but he admits a serious title challenge had crossed his mind.

“We had a close game against Middleton on Saturday, but I told the lads before the Crompton match that if we could win it we would be in with a chance,” said Whittle.

“We are playing as a team, knew what we had to do against Crompton and set about doing it.

“Crompton prepared a wicket with bounce, but I thought we handled it well and at one stage could have made 270.

“Then, when they batted, the ball wasn’t doing anything at first, but when I changed it round in my hand it started to swing all over the place.”

Whittle’s last 13 overs yielded just 12 runs and produced three wickets, while Oldham’s other bowling hero was Stuart Moore, who took five for 32 on his second game back after a mid-season rest.

However, it’s the team ethic which Whittle is keen to stress and Oldham’s togetherness was clearly demonstrated in their celebrations on the pitch after the victory at Glebe Street.

With Norden – one place and six points ahead of Oldham – the visitors to the Pollards on Saturday, Whittle knows the importance of this weekend’s match.

“It’s another massive game for us,” he said. “But we beat them in the Twenty20 recently and I don’t see why we can’t beat them again.”

Oldham professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe will be a key player again on Saturday and will be looking for better luck than at Crompton where he made a superb half-century before playing-on off his glove and pad.

Norden’s own paid man, Jean Symes, has been equally impressive this season so Oldham will have to keep him quiet if they are to make it six wins in a row.

However, momentum is a major factor in sport and you would certainly not back against Oldham in their current mood.