Wheelton delight after Rangers crushed

Photo: Paul Sterritt

Crompton’s Jordan Schofield (in red) makes a break.

Crompton House Old Boys player-manager Matt Wheelton hailed home advantage as a major factor in his side’s emphatic 8-1 victory over Fitton Hill Rangers in the Oldham Sunday League premier division.

“We enjoy playing at home. We played some neat stuff against Fitton Hill and we took the chances we had very well,” he said.

The 3G surface at Royton suits Crompton, as it does some of the other teams using it such as Heyside — who the day before beat DRAM Community 3-1.

The Old Boys scoreline doesn’t reflect the opportunities a depleted Rangers side created.

Rangers manager Tony Marsden said: “It felt like everything they hit went in and we hit the woodwork four times. We also had five other good chances. Though we played well, Crompton deserved it.”

Long-serving Rangers player Paul Badby said: “It wasn’t our strongest team and because our regular goalkeeper Paul Lockett was unavailable we had to put one of our regular out-field players (Elliott Roseweir) in goal.

“We had some bad luck, but take nothing away from Crompton.”