Stevie_J Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 LATICS MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN TO TOP LEAGUE ONE What a shambles. This fixture was one to look forward to, and what a disappointment. Countless people intended travelling over to The Wirral to watch a game between two good sides, played in good spirits, AND THEY CALL IT OFF!!! Yes, I'm talking about the fans' fixture, but at least the main event wasn't such a let down. In a game for which Latics were the favourites prior to kick off, they were eventually good for their win, but a disallowed goal and a sending off proved to be some of the talking points from this encounter. The referee took centre stage, in a game which produced 10 yellow cards and saw manager, John Sheridan, sent to the stands. Yet, it was remarkably timid for a Lancashire v Plastic Scouse affair. Around 2500 'tics travelled over to Prenton Park to witness the Flues produce the narrowest of wins this season. A relatively poor opening period saw Lewis Allessandra and Craig Davies struggling to forge a partnership up front, and only two chances of note were created in what was a scrappy opening forty-five. Latics were lacking the fluid football which saw them stick four past Cheltenham a fortnight ago. Andy Liddell was the main creator during the first half, and it was his cross, after some neat play, which caused chaos deep in the Tranmere defence. Both Chris Taylor or Lewis Allessandra could have poked the ball home, but it was Tranmere who got the decisive touch, scrambling the ball away for a throw. Difficult conditions were proving the thorn in Athletic's side, and they were being brought down to Tranmere's familiar level of long ball after long ball. One such long ball was miscontrolled by Taylor, who was subsequently dispossessed by Shuker, and lead to a Tranmere attack. An inch-perfect through ball to Bas Savage created problems down Athletic's right and when the cross came in only an alert Sean Gregan prevented the home side taking the lead. Minutes later, Mark Allott should have done better in the middle of the park but lost possession under pressure, and another attempted through ball was intercepted by Gregan. The Athletic stalwart was proving instrumental at the back, and without his presence on the field, Athletic would surely have conceded in the first period. However, it was another of Sheridan's specialist free kick routines which would eventually win the game for Oldham. A soft, needless challenge on the edge of the area saw the referee give one of very few decisions in Athletic's favour. Whitaker was the taker, who attempted an unreadable ball through to Liddell. Problem was, everybody in the crowd saw his intention, and the ball was easily cleared down Athletic's right, straight to Eardley. Some neat football resulted in a deep cross played into the penalty area, and Reuben Hazell - still up from the set piece - was there to head the ball home from eight yards, giving no chance to the Tranmere stopper. Sheridan himself was to provide the next action of note, indeed, the last of the half. Sheridan, along with 2500 travelling fans was getting increasingly unhappy with the refereeing decisions, which it should be said were surprisingly one-sided in favour of the home side. Sheridan's temper, not for the first time, boiled over in the opinion of the referee, and a dismissal to the director's box was the result. Could Latics hold out without their maestro conductor? Searching blows were exchanged between the sides, who were to play the remainder of the half out with little fuss. Athletic were worthy of their half-time lead but weren’t playing with the fluidity or the unity of a team joint-top of table. Surely Sheridan would demand an improvement in the second half, and so it proved. Attacking the interestingly named Cowshed, which housed Athletic's travelling army, Oldham came out with far more purpose and quality in the second half. They looked dangerous going forward, and much sharper at the back, with Bas Savage now a shadow of the player he was in the first half. Fullback Eardley - who after the game joined up with the Welsh Under-21 squad - was linking up well with Liddell down the right flank, and it was this pairing who almost provided Athletic with a two-goal cushion. One touch football between the pair sent Allott tearing into the penalty area, and the Tranmere keeper dived bravely at his feet to prevent what was a certain goal, had he got a shot away. Tranmere were lucky in the build up, almost bringing Allott down just inside the area, however the midfield general decided to stay on his feet where many others would have gone down. Taylor was the next to test the Tranmere defence, when he stormed down the left, cut inside and sent a low, placed shot across the opposition goal line, zipping just wide of the far post. A carbon copy of the chance was repeated five minutes later, by the same man. It was clear just why Taylor is winning over his critics this season, and in this form, Athletic may well struggle keeping hold of him come January's transfer window. Having witnessed the sublime during the opening of the season, Neal Eardley provided the ridiculous just after the hour mark. Exquisite football, which is becoming the norm this season, was once again evident down the right hand side, involving Liddell, Davies and the Welsh fullback. He was sent racing clear and attempted a cross, however he got his feet tangled, completely miscued and ended up on his backside, conceding a dead ball kick in the process. It raised a little smile on the faces of everyone in the ground, but left the defender with egg on his face. Athletic were dominating, and Davies sent a shot in early, towards the Tranmere goal, from a full 30 yards, producing an excellent save from the Tranmere keeper, which fell kindly to Chris Taylor who would have surely netted his fifth of the season had it not been for Whitaker, who got in the way on the line. Latics were almost made to pay for that mistake in the final ten minutes, when, on conceding a corner, Jennings rose the highest to head home. However, Latics seem to be getting the rub of the green early season - a vital ingredient in any promotion side - and the goal was ruled out for offside. Mark Crossley suffered an injury during the drama, and this was the reason five minutes of added time were played, but Athletic rode them out without any further drama, to complete their fourth win of the season. The league is starting to take shape now, and although still early days, Athletic find themselves sitting proudly at the top, a full five points clear of Millwall in seventh. Keep this form up and Athletic may well find themselves scaling the Town Hall steps come May. They are fast becoming the team to beat, and There is no reason they cannot play out a successful season. No longer is it hard work being a 'tic. We are on the crest of a wave at the moment and long may it continue. Keep the Faith Report by philliggi, OWTB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Nice one Phill, thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboafc Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 lucky chaddy the owl was not there? otherwise the ref would have given him a yellow card too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lordy Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 2500 ? i take it 1000 were locked out then ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts