Late fightback isn't quite enough

Oldham try-scorer Ben West

A late fightback that earned tries for Ben West and Kyran Johnson and one conversion by Paul Crook gave Workington a mighty scare at the Vestacare Stadium, but it wasn’t quite enough to avoid a second-in-a-row Betfred League 1 defeat for injury-hit Oldham.

Town avenged the 32-10 win at Derwent Park in April by squeezing home 16-14 to become the third League 1 side to topple Oldham on their own ground, following narrow wins for York City Knights and Hunslet.

Oldham have lost five in total — three at home, two away — but of those five all but one were by eight points or fewer and two were by the equivalent of one goal.

Goals, or shortage of same, played a relevant part in the outcome of this game, given that Crook managed only one from three attempts, while Town missed four in the first-half — a conversion and three penalties.

Carl Forber was off the mark twice and there were more first-half misses for dual-reg Sam Wood and clever Town stand-off Jamie Doran.

Oldham, coincidentally, chose not to go for goal three times from kickable penalties, decisions they may have rued when the shrill blast of the hooter confirmed Town’s triumph by a margin of two points.

Town led 10-4 at half-time and then went out to 16-4 before the plucky Roughyeds set about the revival job.

It ended on the very last play of the game when West looked to be scoring in the left-hand corner until his opposite number knocked the ball from his grasp and into touch.

It was as close — and exciting — as that.

Oldham's earlier try was scored by Matt Reid.