Odd couple keep Broadgate at bay

FC Broadgate 1, Oddies Athletic 3
ODDIES moved up to fourth place in the Jack Abbott Premier Division of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League following victory over FC Broadgate at Cathedral Road.

It was a welcome return to form for the top-flight team after a series of on-the-field setbacks.

Delighted Oddies chairman, Nick Parry, said: “It was a pretty important game for us after three defeats on the spin, and we were helped by the return of some key players after injury.

“Mark Hill and Paul Dolmor are our central defensive partnership and this was only the second time they had played together this season.

“They are our rock at the back and they were magnificent against Broadgate.

“It was important we got an early two-goal lead as Broadgate had started brightly.

“The second half was a case of holding on to what we had got, and it was a resolute show from the lads.”

Ricky Cropper’s low drive put Oddies in front after 21 minutes, before Dean Williams turned smartly in the Broadgate penalty area to crash home an unstoppable effort.

Broadgate were back in it after Rodney Harrison converted a spot-kick six minutes before the interval, but the Oddies back line, led superbly by Hill and Dolmor, repelled everything that was thrown at them.

Sam Widdall highlighted a lack of firepower as one reason for Broadgate’s defeat.

Widdall and Anthony Duffy, both aged 23, are one of the youngest managerial partnerships in the Oldham Sunday League.

He said: “We lacked a cutting edge and just needed someone to put the ball in the back of the net.

“After our bright start, we panicked a bit after going two goals down and began to play it long, but that was pointless as Mark Hill just headed everything clear.

levelled
“After some good results in recent weeks, it was a game we maybe should have won.”

Michael McCabe could have levelled matters within 10 minutes of the restart when he volleyed over the crossbar when well-placed.

And as Broadgate went further in search of an equaliser, Oddies substitute Craig Turner broke clear to put the issue beyond doubt with a crisp, low drive from 18 yards.

FC BROADGATE: Smith, Harewood, Milner, S Widdall, Jackson, Berry, Uren, Harrison, Duffy, McCabe, T Widdall. Subs: Street, Ruddock, Trennery, Jewes, Stopford.

ODDIES ATHLETIC: Elford, Slowe, Dolmor, Hill, Goss, Dawson, A Cropper, Taylor, R Cropper, Holt, Williams. Subs: Warburton, Turner, Swarbrick, Conneran, Golden.

Referee: W Sharkey.