'Monster' club Latics were feeling the pressure, admits hero boss Mellon

Latics manager Micky Mellon described yesterday's dream National League play-off final victory as 'massive' for the club and the town.

Latics twice came from behind before edging out Southend United in extra-time, therefore booking their promotion back to the Football League,

"This club is a monster, we were under a lot of pressure," said Mellon after the dramatic win.

"We have a great family who back us (the Rothwells) and we needed to go up so it makes so much difference to Oldham as a football club.

"We can really build forward behind the scenes now. It is massive.

"Everything changes now for the football club so that is terrific for us.”

He went on to set out what it took to get over the line in the final.

Mellon added: “You just keep going.

"In football you always get a chance – you always believe that that chance is come and you have to take it.

"We missed a lot of chances.

"I thought we should have had a penalty as well.”

The Latics boss added: "I think the important thing is to say that is supposed to be non-league – over 50,000 at these games and it is going to change I think.

"You have got to give these teams a chance in the National league, there is some really big clubs in there who have been allowed to stagnate, are bottlenecked – York should have been promoted automatically.

"You are not going to tell me that teams like York and Southend are not going to make the league and do better.

"I have been in League Two and there are teams that are not as ambitious or as a big a club as ones in the National League.

"It has got to change.”

Back to the game, Mellon went on: “They weren’t really troubling us, there wasn’t really much of anything coming from them, so (trailing 2-1) it doesn’t really frighten you.

“Every time we went forward we looked a threat, but Mike Fondop and Joe (Garner) were being given a really hard time, and then James Norwood comes on and you think he’ll get a chance - our second goal was a cracker.

"I just thought, just hang in there, stay in the game and hopefully we will get something.”

---

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.