TOWN MAKE PROGRESS

FOUR second-half goals secured Oldham Town’s progress in the Vodkat North-West Counties League First Division Trophy last night.
Tony Mills’ side recovered from a half-time deficit to defeat Ashton Town 4-1 in round two.

Tom Hughes cancelled out Mike Atherton’s early effort for the hosts, before substitute James Curley, Damien Schofield (penalty) and Lee Neville guaranteed their progress.

The tie, which had been postponed on three previous occasions, was switched to Ashton amid fears that the Whitebank Stadium pitch would be unplayable.


MOSSLEY manager Chris Willcock admitted last night’s 2-0 home defeat by Curzon Ashton in the Tameside derby was a setback to their play-off hopes in UniBond League division one north.
“Our commitment and effort was fantastic. It was simply we were hit and miss in front of goal while there were also two key moments when we failed to defend,” said Willcock.

Alex Elliott put Curzon ahead after 44 minutes and goalkeeper Dave Carnell made some brilliant saves to deny Mossley until Chris Curley settled the issue with a close-range strike.


OLDHAM Town goalkeeper Matty Blair has landed a ‘safe hands’ award after not conceding a goal during December.

Blair landed the first division honour in the Vodkat North West Counties League for December after keeping clean sheets in all three of Town’s matches against AFC Blackpool, Norton United and Chadderton.

Meanwhile, Town have carried out an investigation into the incident on Boxing Day at Chadderton where one of their fans was alleged to have threatened Broadway club player Ian Knapman with a knife as he left the field at half time.

Town manager Tony Mills explained that there is no evidence of a knife being produced, though he admitted one of their spectators was involved in an angry exchange with Knapman.

Mills claims the fan intervened when he witnessed Town’s Matt Landregan being threatened as the players left the field at half-time.

The Town manager blamed Chadderton’s “intimidatory” tactics on the pitch for sparking the trouble.