Oldham will go to Doncaster in first promotion play-off game

Yesterday's result means Oldham finished fourth in Betfred League One behind champions Dewsbury, who go up automatically, Hunslet and Doncaster in that order

A much-changed Oldham side lost 18-10 against a very workmanlike Midlands Hurricanes outfit in Roughyeds’ last game at the Vestacare Stadium yesterday (Sunday).

The result means Oldham finished fourth in Betfred League One behind champions Dewsbury, who go up automatically, Hunslet and Doncaster in that order.

Had Mike Ford’s men won and had Doncaster lost at home to Dewsbury, Roughyeds would have finished third.

In the event Doncaster won 36-26 and Oldham were never once in front against Hurricanes, so Roughyeds go to Doncaster next Sunday in the first week of the play-offs, with another chance should they lose again.

Said Oldham boss Ford: “The positive thing is that we got through without any more injuries.

"It was our third game in eight days and the Rochdale game last Sunday took a lot out of us.

"The other positive is that several players will be back next week, including Gregg McNally, George Hirst and Emmerson Whittel.

"The very fact that we were at Boundary Park on Wednesday was a big lift for the lads on that occasion, but it did’nt happen today.”

Bearing in mind that the last-gasp derby win at the Crown Oil Arena and the win over Workington (with all its weight of expectation, emotion and razzmatazz), all within three days, had taken a lot out of the side, Ford made numerous changes and, apart from positional changes, the starting line-up against Hurricanes lacked McNally, Martyn Ridyard, Luke Nelmes, Matty Wilkinson, Josh Johnson, Hirst and Whiitel.

Oldham team: Rawsthorne; Hartley, Carr, Morgan, Ah Van; Paga, Tyrer; Newton, Slater, Blagbrough, Cameron, Baker, Moran. Subs: Wilkinson, Johnson, Nelmes, Ridyard. 18th man, Bardsley.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.