Egerton goal vital for Athletic

Photo: Chris Sunderland

ANDY Cropper (right) of Oddies, beats Failsworth Athletic’s Drew Wilson to the ball.

Oddies 0, Failsworth Athletic 1

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: MARK EGERTON’S 61st-minute goal could be one of the most crucial in the illustrious 32-year history of Failsworth Athletic.

Egerton’s close-range effort proved decisive in a relegation six-pointer in the Jack Abbott premier division of the D&J Builders (North West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League at New Barn playing fields.

Athletic can boast continuous top-flight status since 1988, with four titles in that period.

The ethos of the club, based on sportsmanship and magnanimity amidst all the successes, has hardly ever changed.

Another constant for Athletic is their playing personnel, but now they are in serious danger of losing their top-flight status.

Unless, of course, they can string together more results like this through to the end of the season.

On a greasy surface, Athletic were up against fellow relegation candidates Oddies who, this time last year, were destined to finish fourth in the premier division and lift the President’s Trophy.

The fact that they haven’t been able to build on last season’s efforts could be down to Mike Casson, who bagged 32 goals in 2008/09, being absent through injury.

And Oddies’ lack of firepower was evident against Athletic as the response to Egerton’s ultimate winner was virtually non-existent.

Oddies chairman Nick Parry said: “It was a fairly even game and one of few chances.

“They scored at the right time and we didn’t really trouble them much after that.”

Oddies midfield pair Nathan Dawson and Chris Taylor did much to ignite their side’s cause.

Egerton’s goal, despite its importance, won’t go down as one of the greatest ever scored.

Glyn Billington’s smart free-kick picked out Matty Olive on the right and his low cross was turned home by the onrushing Egerton.

Dave Cain, Athletic’s club captain and one of the side’s veterans at the age of 42, said: “We have benefited from new players coming in, not just new players but younger ones and I think we have enough in us to stay up.”

ODDIES: Grimshaw, Ashworth, Flowe, Hill, Dolmore, Cropper, Spencer, Taylor, Mayberry, Golden, Dawson. Subs: Lunt, Pullen, Parry.

FAILSWORTH ATHLETIC: Cooper, Billington, Cain, Helme, Egerton, Wilson, McDermott, Simpson, Eyre, Olive, Wright. Subs: Gibson, Lees.

Referee: P Ryan.


ODDIES and Failsworth Athletic lock horns again on Sunday in the last eight of the Challenge Cup at Clayton playing field (kick-off 2pm).