13th August 2000   

Vale routed

OLDHAM boss Andy Ritchie blasted his players last season for failing to come up with a ruthless streak. Well, the message hit home as they scored two on each side of half-time. Ritchie could only watch in admiration as the Latics produced the form he believes will take them to the play-off places. Veteran Neil Adams was Vale’s tormentor-in-chief and got the opener before setting up strikes for Mark Allott, Carlo Corizzan and Shaun Garnett. Oldham gave a debut to new signing Corizzan and the Canadian striker was partnered by Allott who signed a new three-year contract yesterday. Corrizan was in action in the sixth minute when he was denied a header following an Adams cross.

Two minutes later Adams again provided a goalmouth cross for Garnett to head well over. Another chance went begging in the tenth minute when an attempted volley by Sheridan just outside the box was badly miscued. The Latics had their first real scare in the 13th minute when Minton chased a long ball from defence only to shoot wide as keeper Kelly advanced off his line to narrow the angle. Adams was proving a handful down the right flank and Corrizan headed another deep cross off target. The Latics were out of luck again in the 23rd minute when a trademark free kick by Sheridan went agonisingly over the top. Relegated Vale also had their moments but the home side defence was holding together well. Vale were left to breathe again when a long throw-in by Oldham skipper Duxbury was headed on by Holt and Corrizan again headed just wide.

But Latics made no mistake as they hit the visitors with a two-goal blast inside seven minutes. The first came in the 29th minute when Holt robbed a defender and put in a perfect cross. Adams moved in unmarked to volley superbly home from ten yards out. Oldham went two up in the 36th minute. Another penetrating cross from the busy Adams was headed on by big defender Garnett and Allott took advantage of a goalmouth mix-up to head home from close range. Vale came out for the second half in a more determined mood but again the Oldham cover stood firm. The Valiants had three chances in quick succession in the 54th minute but each time their efforts were blocked by fast covering defenders. Then Oldham got back into their attacking stride in the 56th minute when Corrizan headed over. Oldham allowed Vale to pull a goal back in the 67th minute when former Manchester United starlet Michael Twiss scored after forcing keeper Kelly into a fine save with the rebound falling into his path. But Oldham hit back in stunning style. Carlo Corrizan got the debut goal he had been so anxiously looking for in the 69th minute. Then Adams came up with another perfect corner and Garnett outjumped the Vale defence to make it four in the 72nd minute.

Referee: M Dean (Heswall, Wirral).

New signing Mark Robins scored twice for the Millers against his old club before Brett Angell, signed on a free from Stockport, replied after 54 minutes.

Marvin Bryan put through his own goal to level the scores and Angell made it 3-2 in the 78th minute.

Barry Fry was a happy camper as Division Two newcomers Peterborough won 1-0 at Oxford thanks to David Farrell's 30th-minute effort.

Third division champions Swansea held mighty Wigan, a team which had 14 away wins last season, to a 0-0 draw at Vetch Field where the Lancastrians had Kim Nicholls sent off for violent conduct in the 45th minute.

Stoke, promoted via the play-offs, were held 0-0 at home by Wycombe and Northampton, the other promoted club, had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Jamie Forrester scored for the Cobblers in the 58th minute but Ivar Ingimarsson stole a point for the Blues eight minutes from time.

Relegated Swindon were also held 0-0 at home by Colchester.

New boss Danny Wilson was off to a great start with a 2-0 win at Wrexham for Bristol City, Tony Thorpe and Paul Holland finding the net either side of the break.

Millwall, favourites with many people for promotion, strolled to a 2-0 win over Reading with Aussie Tim Cahill netting both.

Paul Barnes grabbed the points for Bury in a 1-0 win at Cambridge and Mark Stallard did the same for Notts County who won by the same margin at Luton.

Oldham pulled off the biggest win of the day, 4-1, against Port Vale who only had Michael Twiss to answer goals from Neil Adams, Mark Allott, Carlo Corazzin and Shaun Garnett.

Bristol Rovers, who missed the play-offs by two points, were held 1-1 at home by Bournemouth, Chukkie Eribenne, formerly of Coventry, equalising Jamie Cureton's ninth-minute penalty for Rovers.

Seeing the space, Adams charged in on the blind side to hit a sweet first-time volley into the bottom corner from ten yards. The goal sent confidence coursing through Oldham's veins and the visitors cracked again after 36 minutes, with Adams turning provider. Garnett helped on a corner from the right, leaving goalkeeper Mark Goodlad out of position, and Mark Allott celebrated his new three-year contract by nodding home from three yards. Vale almost replied just before the break when Ville Viljanen's header gave Gary Kelly his first serious save in the home goal. Sheridan hit another trade mark free-kick and Oldham continued to dominate, as Vale lacked support for battling striker Viljanen. They finally made an impact in the 67th minute thanks to a sharp move down the left. Michael Cummins crossed low and, after Michael Twiss brought a stunning save from Kelly, Twiss was on hand to lash home the rebound for a debut goal.

Yet Vale were blown away immediately as Oldham stormed into a 4-1 lead with 2 goals in three minutes. After 69 minutes, an Adams cross found Holt charging in at the far-post to force Goodlad into a desperate block. The ball fell kindly to Corazzin, who bundled in from a couple of yards. The Latics still weren't finished and they completed the rout in their next attack. Adams provided another assist after his corner was met by Garnett who claimed the goal despite a big deflection of a Vale defender.