Clark's wonder strike seals deal for Athletic

Photo: Tim Bradley

MOTD - Oldham Sunday League Div 1 Shield Springhead (purple) v Royton (yellow). (l-r) Springhead captain Daniel Gordon and Royton captain Michael 'Carrot' Garrett and teams

Royton Athletic 2, Springhead Libs 1

JAMIE Clark scored a winning goal that even the great Lionel Messi would have been proud of as Royton Athletic lifted the Oldham Sunday League's First Division Shield at Chadderton FC.

MAGNIFICENT

Clark's magnificent late effort came when he latched on to a punt forward from Ryan O'Donnell, before lifting the ball over advancing Libs' 'keeper Ian Bowers with the most delicate of touches from 12 yards.

Athletic manager Keith Bradbury said: "It was an even first half, but our second-half performance was very good and we deserved to win.

"It was a good team performance from us and a great goal to boot for the winner."

Libs' manager Jimmy Smith said: "I'm disappointed, that's all I can say really.

"You have to make it count and Royton did."

In a very tight and hard-fought first half, chances were few and far between. That was down to rock-solid defending from both sides and especially Athletic centre-back Paul Mullen, whose determination to win everything, on the ground and in the air, stood out.

DEFENCES

But when defences were eventually breached, Athletic's Michael Garside saw his 23rd minute header strike a post after Athletic's Liam Siddall saw his effort come back into play via the crossbar.

It was Libs who opened the scoring after 58 minutes when Adam Bray converted Adam Smith's delivery from 12 yards.

Athletic levelled seven minutes later when Siddall's angled drive forced Libs' goalkeeper Bowers into a desperate but incredible save, but the rebound fell to the alert Danny Hitchens to fire the ball home from close range.

On a morning of football that was an absolute credit - make no mistake about it - to the Oldham Sunday League, it was good to see league chairman Jack Bamford back in harness after a lengthy illness to announce the winners at the end.

But that was before Clark delivered the winner for an Athletic side that, on this display, must surely be red-hot favourites to gain promotion to the top flight next season.

ROYTON ATHLETIC: Barclay, Lockett, Walsh, Boswell, Mullen, O'Donnell, Holmes,Garrett, Hitchens, Siddall, Clark. Subs: Stevenson, Gayle, Leech, Joy, Bradbury.

SPRINGHEAD LIBS: Bowers, Cleary, Milburn, Smith, Longley, Garside, Cullen, Miah, Wilson, Bray, Gordon. Subs: Collins, Maher, Mason, McGarry, Newton.

REFEREE: A Lorimer.

ASSISTANT REFEREES: D Szuminski, J Albison.

STAR MAN: Paul Mullen (Royton Athletic) - Supremely dominant at the back.