Boss Pullen salutes a super double triumph

HEAD THE BALL: Horseshoe's Ash Ainsworth gets up highest

Horseshoe 1, Oddies 14 2

ODDIES 14 secured a league and Shield double by overcoming Horseshoe in the final of the Oldham Sunday League Division One Shield at Chadderton FC's Ark Fleetech Stadium.

Earlier in the week, Oddies had secured the league's David Giblin Division One championship with a 3-0 title play-off defeat of Horseshoe after both sides had finished the campaign on 51 points, with the goal differences not coming in to play.

The Shield finals have had a habit down the years of producing spectacular goals and this one was no exception.

After 13 minutes, Oddies' Mike Casson powered his side ahead with a breathtaking 35-yard volley.

And just three minutes later it was that man Ash Ainsworth's turn to draw gasps of breath from the sizeable crowd as his rasping volley from 20 yards flew in. Those two early strikes set the tone of the tie, with the promise of more to follow.

Surprisingly, only one did, but there should have been many more as Horseshoe in particular spurned a bag full of opportunities.

CULPRIT

Chief culprit was Ainsworth, who on three notable occasions had only Bailey to beat but a combination of hesitancy and an unusually poor final touch let him down. At least we know that the usually reliable finisher is fallible.

The winning goal came just past the midway point of the opening period as Nathan Dawson latched onto a slide rule Chris Taylor pass before rounding Taylor and passing the ball into the net.

Oddies manager Dave Pullen, usually not one to be short of words, said: "I'm just too happy at the moment."

When asked about his side's chances in the top flight next season, Pullen added: "Our aim is to be in the top half of the table, without a doubt."

Deeply disappointed Horseshoe manager Nathan Handley said: "I thought we were unlucky but we did miss a lot of chances. We have won promotion and we look forward to next season in the Premier Division and I am sure we will hold our own."

A PERIOD of one minute's silence was observed before kick-off in respect of Dave Mayberry, brother of Oddies' secretary Wayne, who passed away at the age of 38 just a few days before the final.

HORSESHOE: Taylor, Benson, Blackman, G Maznyczenko, Fitton, Simpson, Bowles, Curran, Ashworth, Jackson C Maznyczenko. Subs: Simpson, N Maznyczenko, Carr, Murphy, Lawrence.

ODDIES 14: Bailey, Kingsley, Fox, Wooding, Melvin, Holt, Holroyd, Taylor, Dolmor, Casson, Dawson. Subs: Terry, Simms, Brierley, Cropper, Spencer.

STAR MAN: Keith Melvin (Oddies 14) - Constantly repelled Horseshoe threat.

REFEREE: J Albison. ASSISTANT REFEREES: P Dawson, D Szuminski.