Five-star Oldham so slick

HOCKEY: LEADERS Oldham firsts continued their unbeaten start to the Greater Manchester League Division One season with an emphatic 5-1 win at home to third-placed Urmston.

Captain Rachael Johnson set the ball rolling midway through the first half by converting a well-worked short corner.

Oona Cassidy kept the scoreboard ticking over with a close-range finish after good work by Rebecca Blair.

Oldham continued to create chances but it was Urmston who scored just before the break, taking advantage of a lapse in concentration from the usually dependable Oldham defence.

However, the second half was one-way traffic, and goals by Karen Rowley, Johnson and Cassidy clinched the points for the title hopefuls.

It was a first-class team performance from front to back, although the defence deserved special praise for keeping a usually prolific Urmston front line quiet.

The club’s third team were in action against Tameside firsts in Division Three.

Thanks to goals from Deb Alcock (two), Fran Lees, Rachel Lamb and Jackie Sullivan, Oldham ran out impressive 5-0 winners to climb to sixth in the table.

Kasia Faulkner and Lees impressed, but the outstanding player was Jane Cooper.