Crown's class proves too much for Oddies

GET IN THERE . . . Crown's Nathan Barker (left) heads home

Crown FC 3, Oddies 14 1

CROWN FC reached the semi-finals of the Oldham Sunday League's Challenge Cup at the expense of Oddies 14 at a windy Chapel Road 3G.

In difficult conditions, albeit on an artificial surface, it was Jack Abbott Premier Division side Crown who had the edge against David Giblin Division One outfit and top-flight hopefuls Oddies.

Crown established a three-goal lead by half-time through Nathan Barker, Carl Beamish and Ryan Hobin, before Nathan Dawson netted a late consolation for Oddies.

Kyle Jackson, who is normally a striker, played in goal for Crown in place of the injured Kyle Gardner.

Crown's solid management team of Stamford Messam, Lewis Marshall and Basil Warner is headed by Paul Marshall, who is also the new manager of the Oldham Sunday League's representative side.

Marshall said: "Even though we were three goals up at half-time we could have doubled that lead.

"Overall we were well on top."

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Oddies manager Dave Pullen said: "I thought we played very well in the second half and grafted as a team and we actually won the second half 1-0."

Barker set Crown on their way to the last-four stage after 15 minutes with a glancing header from Neil Hardman's well-flighted delivery, before Beamish slammed home a low drive from 20 yards out just past the half-hour mark.

And when Gary Chadderton crossed for Hobin to head home from close range five minutes before the break, it was, in the final reckoning, the final nail in the coffin for Oddies. Dawson's 76th minute close range effort for Oddies at least gave the scoreline some respectability.

While table-topping Oddies can now set their sights firmly on promotion, Crown, who were due to play in the final of the Manchester County FA Sunday Cup last night, look set to be a major force in Sunday football be it in the Oldham Sunday League or whatever title the proposed Oldham-Bolton merger gets (how about Boldham?!).

THE remainder of the Oldham Sunday League programme was washed out.

CROWN FC: Jackson, Duffy, Walker, Boucher, Slicker, Hardman, Chadderton, Beamish, Hallum, Barker, Hobin. Subs:Grant, Knapman-Fields, Clegg.

ODDIES 14: Bailey, Fox, Wood, Holroyd, Brierley, Sims, Taylor, Kingsley,Terry, Dawson, Cropper. No subs.

STAR MAN:Andrew Walker (Crown FC) - Solid at the back.

REFEREE: D Szuminski.