Hard work pays off for Oldham grafters

ON THE CHARGE . . . Samuel Opara makes his presence felt for AFC Oldham

AFC Oldham 2005 2, Moston Brook 0

AFC Oldham 2005 maintained second spot in Division Two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League with a hard-fought win at sun-drenched Hathershaw.

Against a resolute Moston side, Oldham needed all the patience they could muster to break down their opponents.

Ben Maher, normally a striker, deputised in goal for Oldham as first choice 'keeper Ryan Mawdsley was suspended.

It takes discipline to be patient and Oldham had it by the bucket load. Highly promising striker Sean Salford, whose power, pace and thoroughbred movement allowed him two sights of goal inside the opening nine minutes, was a shade unlucky not to open the scoring

First, 23-year-old Salford - who will surely play at a higher level soon - got on the end of a looped ball forward only to see his firm touch well saved by the Moston goalkeeper, while from a similar distance his crisp drive flashed narrowly wide.

As Oldham continued to press, Salford was on the end of most things inside the Moston penalty area but the visitors were not for caving in.

That is until ten minutes before the break when Edivaldo Santos took advantage of hesitant defending to crash the ball home with unforgiving power from 14 yards.

Salford went close again with an audacious 35-yard drive from close to the corner flag that had the Moston shot-stopper a worried man for a moment or two.

Aaron Taylor's impressive first-half showing in midfield was amplified in the second period and his prompting was pivotal to Oldham's decisive second goal on 73 minutes.

But it was Salford's neat flick with his back to goal that led to substitute Simon Mayall placing the ball home from 16 yards.

Oldham always looked a class act when keeping the ball down on the lush artificial surface, but were often forced into a long ball game due to the sheer commitment and tight marking of their opponents.

Oldham manager Ross Elliott, while content with the win, thought his side could have done a little better.

Elliott said: "Our hard work paid off but we didn't play the football I wanted us to play.

"It is a good sign that we can still win despite not being at our best and we got a clean sheet as well."

A BENEFIT race night for Alex Cook, who suffered a serious leg injury last month just six minutes into his debut for AFC Oldham's second string, will be held at the Black Horse pub on Ripponden Road on Friday, October 28 from 7pm.

AFC OLDHAM 2005: Maher, Tuohy, Opara, Ure, Grattan, Green, Ashworth, Hilton, Salford, Santos, Taylor. Subs: Ifeionel, Horton, Painter, Mayall, Farrington.

STAR MAN: Aaron Taylor (AFC Oldham 2005) - Massive influence, especially in the second half.