Wow.
That was for the fans who got the ground ready, for the players who stuck by us, the fans working in the club (because if they continue to work without being paid they are most probably doing so for the love of the club), for King Kev and the legend that is Benno and all the rest of the coaching staff. Heroes the lot of you
A couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I’d still have a club. Even as recently as last week I wasn’t sure this game would go ahead. The players have been on strike, they haven’t had running water, they haven’t had a pre-season, wages have been late and yet they produce a result like that.
This was right up there with the most unlikely results in our club’s 117 year history. Up there with Julian Hails’ hattrick at Leicester, scoring at Swansea with 8 men, that time Drewe Broughton apparently actually scored a league goal (in the right net
@Jonny_Stokes ), Charlie Kelman scoring from the halfway line on his debut, that time we didn’t concede 3 under Kevin Bond. It might not have been beating Man U or Mildenhall’s save at Chelsea to get us a replay because with a bit of luck we could grab a 1-0 win or 1-1 draw against a team a division/two divisions above. To have half a pre-season, half a squad and to thrash the second favourites 4-0. Wow.
For the first half hour we were on top. The continuity from last season showed. The game was played in Oldham’s half and if a team deserved to be in front it was us. The goal came from a corner and the ball falling to Callum Powell who is at his best when he doesn’t have to think. Noor had earlier had a similar chance blocked by a desperate defender. At the other end the imperious Ralph, having his best game for the club, blocked a rare Oldham attack initiated by Kensdale dwelling on the ball. Cardwell then had a powerful effort saved and we seemed more likely to add a second than be pegged back level.
As the half came to a close energy levels dropped and the lack of pre-season showed. It suggested the second half might be a case of holding on and 6 minutes of injury time seemed excessive but something does need to be done about it (I imagine Borehamwood must still be playing their first half now).
The game however turned early second half on an absolutely horror tackle on Ralph. Late, reckless, dangerous on his planted leg: the sort that ends careers. Even a National League ref could get that one right. Something of a melee ensued and Kensdale was booked. Ralph was still down at this stage and the prospect of having only one available centre-half if Kensdale was sent off flashed across my mind but the ref wasn’t looking for excuses to even the numbers. With the extra man it evened up the fitness advantage Oldham had from having a proper pre-season. Even so legs began to tire and Oldham started to get more into things with their sub Fondop prominent. Mooney, who hadn’t featured in preseason surprisingly came on for Powell (who has yet to complete 90 minutes since September) but the killer sub was Oli Coker, long overlooked by fans in favour of Jon Benton. He replaced the excellent Fonguck who was blowing and Oli revelled in the extra space as Oldham tried to go more attacking for an equaliser. Coker found himself 25 yards out and took a touch and buried it past the keeper for a memorable first goal for the club .
Oldham’s heads then went. Mooney picked the ball up in oceans of space on the half way line and run through before curling into the same spot Coker had just done, from a similar range. At that point we could relax. The players didn’t and another Oli Coker run into space saw him picked out and cross in for Cardwell in the ten minutes(!) of injury time to nod in the goal his efforts deserved (for example his selfless sprint opened up the space for Mooney’s goal). Wow.
A brilliant day that I thought may never happen. We could hardly have written the script better: yet another clean sheet for Collin, a goal for each of our forwards, a confidence booster for Dan Mooney, a breakout game for the 16th man in the squad.
