Hill hits back to deny Dynamos

BATTLE FOR THE BALL . . . Luke Mack (right) of FC Dynamos challenges Crompton House Old Boys opponent Tony Walsh.

FOOTBALL: FREE-SCORING AFC Oldham 2005 responded to the previous week’s 5-0 defeat at Cheadle Villa by smashing 11 goals past Bedians at the Tameside Stadium.

The damage was done in a second-half goals feast, after the local side had held a 3-2 lead at the break.

The result was even more unlikely midway through the first half with Bedians 2-1 in front.

And it was all very reminiscent of the Oldham Athletic v Chester game at Boundary Park, 61 years almost to the day, when the

visitors raced into a two-goal advantage only for Athletic to claim an 11-2 victory.

On that snow-covered day, Eric Gemmell netted seven times for the home side.

On this chilly afternoon in Tameside, Callum Franklin scored five goals to cap an excellent all-round performance, closely followed by Dominic Hallam, who bagged four.

Further comparison between the two matches is in the previous week’s results for both clubs.

While Athletic crashed 3-1 at Crewe Alexandra in the January, 1952, AFC Oldham’s last outing resulted in a 5-0 loss at Cheadle Villa, a result which saw two sides leapfrog them at the top of the Lancashire and Cheshire League’s Premier Division.

However, the 11-goal show has lifted AFC Oldham back to the top of the table and they look a good bet to clinch the title.

Manager Paul Marshall said: “We set off well, scored early on and had Bedians on the back foot, but then we seemed to get complacent and went 2-1 down.

“I made three changes just after half time and we kicked on from there. It was a great result after losing so heavily the week before.”

For the record, Athletic finished in fourth position in the old Third Division North in 1952, but I

suspect that nothing less than the title will do for Marshall.

He added: “We are in a good position and with a great set-up at the club, we have to be thinking of moving up to a higher grade of football.

“I believe we could hold our own in the North-West Counties League.”

AFC Oldham’s other scorers were Andrew Walker and Ryan Gibson.