Oldham fired up for revenge

OLDHAM have the chance of swift revenge when they host Royton in a Lake Garage CLL derby showdown on Sunday (1.45pm).

Inspired by Luke Procter’s superb unbeaten 90, Royton ejected Oldham from the league’s Twenty20 Competition last Friday.

Chris McDonnell’s men will be looking to bounce back in the longer format of the game and, despite recording only two victories this term, there are signs that they are starting to get their act together.

The skipper led the way at Clifton last Saturday, hitting an excellent 96 as Oldham made a competitive 190 for eight.

But, as others have done this season, Oldham succumbed to the power of Clifton professional Adil Nisar, whose unbeaten 107 steered his side to victory.

Oldham can take some positives from their display and they will need to be on their mettle against a Royton side who have won five of their last six league matches.

Sunday’s Wood Cup quarter-final defeat at Monton and Weaste was disappointing, but skipper Barry Woodward will no doubt remind his players of their previous exploits and it will be interesting to see if professional Luke Procter can bounce back from last weekend’s rare failure with the bat.

The former Oldham player, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday, is flying high in the professionals’ averages and his Twenty20 display against his former club marks him down as a key figure in Sunday’s derby.

Oldham warm up for the Royton clash with a trip to a Milnrow, who lack consistency but are capable of beating any team in the CLL on their day.

They have a new professional in Pakistani Kamran Younis and, in batsman Max Power, one of the top runs-scorers in the CLL this season.

Throw in talented bowlers such as Nigel Doyle, Steve Lane and Jon Storey and you have a team which really ought to be higher than tenth.

Royton are at home to Rochdale tomorrow and the Redbrook side will be cock-a-hoop following their Wood Cup victory over Heywood.

Rochdale also have a new paid man in Kash Weeraratne and the Sri Lankan has already made some telling contributions.

Crompton may have one eye on their Wood Cup semi-final against Rochdale on Sunday week, but they need to improve a disappointing league placing so positive results at Middleton tomorrow and at home to Milnrow the following day would be a good start.

Sixth-placed Middleton were defeated at home to Monton and Weaste last Saturday, but are generally hard to beat at Towncroft and boast a solid professional in Jean Symes and plenty of amateur back-up.

Werneth are expecting new professional Humayun Farhat to be in their team to face Heywood at home tomorrow and travel to Monton and Weaste on Sunday.

Not much has gone right for Andy Walker’s men recently and the much-discussed Roelof van der Merwe situation cannot have helped.

Stability is needed and the acquisition of a regular paid man until the end of the season should help.

That said, Werneth face tough games against the reigning champions tomorrow and the Wood Cup holders 24 hours later.

TOMORROW: Clifton v Littleborough; Middleton v Crompton; Milnrow v Oldham; Norden v Monton and Weaste; Royton v Rochdale; Unsworth v Ashton; Walsden v Radcliffe; Werneth v Heywood.

SUNDAY: Ashton v Clifton; Crompton v Milnrow; Heywood v Middleton; Littleborough v Walsden; Monton and Weaste v Werneth; Oldham v Royton; Radcliffe v Unsworth; Rochdale v Norden.