We didn’t build enough pressure, says Benson

TONY BENSON admitted Oldham got things wrong at crucial times against Keighley in the Co-operative Championship One play-off final.

The Roughyeds coach felt his side did not apply enough pressure in an error-strewn first half which produced a single Oldham try, albeit one added to by a Chris Baines goal for a 6-4 interval lead.

Clever play by Danny Jones early on after the break then gave the Cougars the impetus needed to wrest control of the clash and, despite a brave late comeback featuring three tries in the final 10 minutes, the result was a third straight showpiece defeat for the Roughyeds.

“To be fair to Keighley, they did deserve the win,” Benson said.

“They played better than we did on the day.

“We got a bit giddy when we got down their end and didn’t build pressure as we should have.

“We have become very good at that over the past few weeks but when it got down to the crunch, we didn’t manage it.

“It took its toll in the end. When you are running out of energy and you have got the injuries we have, it all catches up with you at the same time.”

A pair of contentious video refereeing decisions went against Oldham in the first half.

Tommy Goulden — who seems to specialise in agonisingly close calls — was adjudged to have knocked on when grounding, while Cougars winger Sam Gardner appeared to momentarily drop the ball when diving over under pressure from Paul O’Connor.

“We only needed one of them to go the right way and we were laughing, but it didn’t happen,” said Benson.

“It is a cruel game and we were on the wrong end of it.

“But if we had spent a bit more time building pressure down at their end then it would have been clear-cut in our favour.”

Benson also made it clear that he believed no blame should be apportioned to player-of-the-year Chris Baines, who missed a crucial late conversion in a stunning late comeback which was only stifled by the full-time hooter.

“I was proud of the way we responded,” he added.

“In the past, we would have folded. Heads would have been down and we would have been looking at the referee for poor decisions.

“All year Chris (Baines) has scored goals when we needed them and tries when we needed them. I certainly can’t point the finger there.”