I thought it was a goal , says coach

Photo: Dave Murgatroyd

STUNNED . . . Oldham players can't believe it at the final whistle.

OLDHAM players, coaches and fans couldn't believe it when Lewis Palfrey's goal kick off the touchline was waved away by both touchjudges two minutes from the end of a Summer Bash thriller against Swinton Lions.

The ball seemed to swerve just inside the far upright as Palfrey was trying to convert a last-gasp Adam Clay try which, if successful, would have put Oldham 26-24 ahead.

The officials ruled 'no goal' and with the scores locked at 24-24, Swinton's Matty Beharrell crowned a fantastic personal performance by landing a drop goal to give the Lions a 25-24 win and break Oldham hearts.

Speaking in a radio interview, coach Scott Naylor said: "I thought it was a goal. I was sitting behind it and I saw it go over the posts. I don't know why it wasn't given."

He stressed, however, that first and foremost Oldham needed to look at themselves for letting slip a 20-0 half-time lead in a crucial game in terms of staying in the Championship.

'LEARN QUICKLY'
He added: "We need to learn quickly. The season will be over before we know it and we'll be at the wrong end of the table.

"There are certain ways of doing things. When Swinton scored the first try in the second half we should have slowed things down and kept control. Instead we gave away a penalty and they scored again.

"It isn't all like playing touch rugby with mates in the back garden. Sometimes, you have to play with intelligence rather than brawn but we didn't play with either in the second half.

"I've told them (players) what I think, but we have tough away games coming up now to Batley and Dewsbury, places where you need big hearts and loads of desire.

"Those are the perfect places to test how much heart we have."