The rest of July will be absolutely vital for Oldham

Oldham have eight games left, six of them at home

All of the remaining Sundays in July will be vitally important in the Roughyeds' quest to finish top of League 1 and go up automatically.

Oldham have EIGHT games left, six of them at home - and that could prove decisive in the neck-and-neck race with Keighley Cougars to end up as champions.

Every game is a ‘must win’ match, but the next three in July are especially relevant for the reasons outlined here.

Next Sunday, July 14, Oldham are at home to North Wales Crusaders - and those with good memories will recall how they knocked Roughyeds out of the 2023 play-offs here and how we snatched a terribly tight affair 25-24 at their place a week or two back thanks only to Danny Craven’s last-gasp drop goal with seconds remaining.

Sean Long's men got there in the end - just - but next week’s rematch here at Boundary Park will need no selling that’s for sure.

Seven days later Oldham are at home again to Keighley in arguably the biggest game of the season and on July 28 they go to Rochdale, who are currently third in the table and who, by all accounts, have made some good signings recently and are playing out of their skins.

Throw in the fact that there were four ex-Oldham players in their ranks when they smashed Hunslet 48-18 at the South Leeds Stadium last time out, and that derby games bring out special qualities, and this is a game in which only the Roughyeds’ best will suffice

July will, indeed, be a landmark month for Roughyeds and one that will make or mar our more immediate ambitions.

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