Action replay for Marshall’s men

Photo: Chris Sunderland

NATHAN Bourne (right), of AFC Oldham, breaks against Whalley Range.

Match of the Day
AFC Oldham 2, Whalley Range 2

FOOBALL: AFC OLDHAM came within a whisker of becoming the first side to beat third-placed Whalley Range this season in the Premier Division of the Lancashire and Cheshire League at the Tameside Stadium.

Oldham led 2-0 with six minutes remaining, but two late strikes preserved the title favourites' unbeaten run.

Paul Marshall, the Oldham manager, said: "I honestly thought we were going to win it.

"But in the end it was a case of deja vu as we led them 2-1 in the first game of the season only for a late goal to deny us victory.

"We seem to do really well against the top sides, but most of our poor results this season have come against the teams below us.

"It was a good performance and we defended very well up until those last 10 minutes or so — but Range are a very good side."

Marshall was quick to play down his side's chances of claiming the title this time round and added: "It is probably a bit late now and I think our main hope of winning something this season could be in the Rhodes Cup."

A glance at the table shows Oldham in fifth place in the league's top flight, but the teams above and immediately below them have several games in hand.

The outstanding Callum Franklin, whose consistency in the last 10 matches has set the standard for his Oldham team-mates, opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark. He netted from six yards following a lay-off from Dominic Hallam.

Oldham suffered a setback during the interval when Nathan Mushtaq had to retire from the action due to a cut on his head, which he sustained towards the end of the opening period.

As Range applied lots of pressure in the early moments of the second half Oldham continued to defend well, with Andrew Walker, John Slicker and Grant Marshall — who had taken up Mushtaq's position in the back line — combining effectively to repel the visitors.

The hosts must have thought they were home and dry when Franklin netted his second goal with 74 minutes on the clock, after good work by Nathan Bourne.

Range, however, pulled one back with six minutes remaining and restored parity with their next attack.

But Marshall and his Oldham side can take a lot of heart from this result.