Promotion ambition

GROUNDED . . . Paul Hinchliffe (left), player-manager of Oldham Hulmeians, challenges for the ball. PICTURE: PAUL STERRITT

Oldham Hulmeians 1, Bolton Wyresdale 2

TAKE three key strikers out of any side and the team will inevitably struggle.

That was the case as table-topping Oldham Hulmeians crashed 2-1 at home for the second week running in Division One of the Lancashire Amateur League.

Ryan Shaughnessy, Daryl Weston and Ashley Ainsworth, who have scored 32 goals between them in Hulmeians’ march to the top of the table, were all missing due to other commitments. Add to that absences of regular defenders Chris Hope and Damien Schofield, and Hulmeians’ plight becomes apparent.

But manager Paul Hinchliffe is confident of having a full-strength side tomorrow for the trip to Accrington Amateurs.

Hinchliffe, who named himself in the line-up for the first time in six months, said: “It was a massive blow to the team’s confidence to have so many key players missing, players whose names are first on the team sheet. We just didn’t turn up for the game.

“We are still top and I am confident we can make a long-awaited return to the top flight.”

When previous manager Geoff Howard left last season, some of the Hulmeians side went with him.

Hinchliffe gave Hulmeians a 29th-minute lead from the penalty spot after he had been held in the Bolton box.

But the lack of certainty in the side on a rainy day at Tate Street saw the visitors first level matters in the 65th minute before claiming the winner with five minutes left