Roughyeds edge out Rochdale to seal crucial derby victory

Oldham came from behind in a baking hot derby at Rochdale to secure a vital 14-10 win which preserves the Roughyeds' three-point lead over Keighley at the League 1 summit.

Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e was the match-winner, touching down after Riley Dean and Bailey Aldridge had finally unlocked a stubborn Hornets defence, to overturn a 10-8 half-time deficit and leave Sean Long's men in control of their destiny with five matches to play.

"I knew we would find a way," Long told Roughyeds TV.

"But we just made it too hard for ourselves, our discipline was terrible in the second quarter and they had a really good crack at us.

"Second half the players came out and the effort was there, it's a game of 80 minutes and they stuck to the plan.

"I always felt like we would have enough."

Oldham though suffered a knee injury to influential half-back Danny Craven and also saw young forward Brad Gallagher leave the field after collapsing in the tackle.

The visitors started well - roared on by over a thousand travelling fans, many of whom had walked from Boundary Park to the Crown Oil Arena to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of Rob Burrow.

Winger Kieran Dixon got the ball rolling when he finished off a sweeping right to left move by touching down in the corner from captain Jordan Turner's pass, and Oldham were flying when Jack Johnson was on hand to collect a wonderful Laulu-Togaga'e offload for try number two - his third in two games.

Dixon uncharacteristically missed both conversions to keep the lead at 8-0 and the new signing was soon sin-binned for a professional foul as Rochdale looked to score.

The Hornets took full advantage to score two quick tries with the extra man, both finished in the left corner by winger Luke Forber, as Gary Thornton's side went into the interval with a deserved 10-8 lead.

After Long laid down the law to his troops at half-time, the second-half was a stop-start tussle which saw both sides defend their line for large periods either side of two lengthy injury delays.

First Gallagher stayed down following a collision and received extensive treatment on the field.

He was able to walk off and later revealed he had blacked out and would be monitored.

Craven's injury looks more serious, with the half-back clutching his knee in agony after a trademark jinking run saw him denied just short of the line.

He will be assessed this week and Oldham will be thankful that Riley Dean's move from Australia was brought forward this month.

And it was the former Warrington Wolves man who finally unlocked the Rochdale defence, breaking clear and finding hooker Aldridge to race towards the posts and find PLT in support to seal the win.

"We just have to be on it every week - it was a local derby and we almost got punched in the face," Long added.

"Full credit to Rochdale who were very, very good and we just found a way to win.

"Gallagher took an elbow to his sternum and his heart rate was going through the roof so he ended up coming off. He will be fine.

"Danny's was a knee and whether it is his medial or cruciate I'm not too sure.

"He has been class all year and we lost him in a bad period of the game."

Oldham now have back-to-back home games against Midlands and Newcastle before the trip to Keighley that could decide the title.

Oldham team: Laulu-Togaga'e, Agoro, Jack Johnson, Turner, Dixon, Craven, Dean, Farnworth, Wildie, J Chapelhow, Gallagher, Taylor. Moran.

Subs: Aldridge, T Chapelhow, Josh Johnson, Sidlow.

18th man: Astley.

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