1st October 2000   

Latics struggle again

GOALS win games and if Oldham don’t wake up to that simple fact then it is going to be a season of struggle.

Once again failure to find a finish cost them and they can’t afford to be cast too far adrift near the bottom of the table even at this stage of the season.

The only plus at the moment is that the Latics are creating chances - but they can’t leave it too long before they start putting them away.

The lowest crowd of the season - a miserly 3,888 - chanted rubbish and streamed out before the end.

In simple terms Oldham were given a bit of a lesson in finishing - although some of it was of their own doing, but boss Andy Ritchie insisted ‘‘We should have been four up before they scored.’’

He added ‘‘We are coming up with the chances, but we just don’t have a cutting edge.

We were all over them for most of the first half then we lost our way after the break.

You can’t afford to do that and we got punished.

We just don’t have enough spark at the moment and we need some fire in our bellies.

One thing is for sure, we won’t change our philosophy by going defensive.

There is no point because we can’t do that.’’

Oldham's losing run continued on Saturday as Cambridge ran out 3-1 winners at Boundary Park increasing the pressure on boss Andy Ritchie.
The lowest crowd attendance of the season watched a Oldham were guilty of missing chances and in the second half failed to compete against Roy McFarland's side.
Andy Ritchie must have been disappointed that his side leaked a goal just before the break after the Latics has looked dangerous in stages. Carlo Corrazin was on form and forced a great save from Cambridge 'keeper Lionel Perez on 44 minutes. A few minutes later however the U's hit back
Striker Tom Youngs latched onto a long ball played out of defence 30 yards out, beat two defenders and slotted the ball past the outstretched left hand of Latics 'keeper Gary Kelly.
It seemed as though that goal demoralised the Oldham players who played poorly after the break. Cambridge totally dominated and early on saw Alex Russell have a shot cleared off the line.
Roy McFarland saw his side go another goal to the good on 62 minutes when Youngs notched his second. Zema Abbey flicked the ball into space, the Oldham defence were caught totally cold, Youngs nipped in, rounded Kelly, and slotted home.
The misery was further compounded on 82 minutes as Alex Russell was found by a cross on the left. From ten yards out the midfielder easily drilled past Kelly.
Andrew Holt salvaged only a shred of pride four minutes from time. A free kick from Paul Smith on the right found the head of Holt who netted from close range.
The Latics are now one place off the foot of the Second Division table on six points with only Oxford below having amassed four points this term.

Roy McFarland's men continue to defy the critics who tipped them for the drop at the start of the campaign.

But Oldham viewed ,ironically, as outside bets for promotion, are stuck in the bottom four after a nightmare run of nine league games without a win.

Cambridge's Tom Youngs took his tally for the season to six while Alex Russell deserved his goal for a man-of-the-match display.

Yet, demanding manager, McFarland said "I still think we can do better. We should have had more than three".

Cambridge could have gone in front after only eight minutes when Zena Abbey sprung the offiside trap but took too long over his shot. Defender, Chris Lightfoot, got back to clear off the line.

Two minutes later it was the visitors who breathed a sigh of relief when goakeeper, Lionel Perez, made a superb stop from a Mark Innes header.

Oldham had the better of the match but couldn't turn their domination into goals.

And they were punished on the stroke of half-time when Youngs broke the deadlock.

The midfielder evaded two weak tackles and hoisted the ball over goalkeeper, Gary Kelly.

And the same man could have doubled the lead after 47 minutes when he headed just wide from Russell's centre.

Youngs came even closer moments later with a close range effort which was hacked off the line by Neil Adams.

But Oldham's poor defending landed them in trouble again when Abbey slid in a cross from Youngs, only to be ruled offside.

The second goal arrived after 61 minutes and was again attributable to poor defending by the Latics.

Abbey's flick on should have been dealt with on the edge of the box but Oldham hesitated fatally, and Youngs nipped in to go round Kelly and slot into an empty net.

It was 3-0 with nine minutes remaining after a left wing cross found it's way to Russell at the far post.

The former Rochdale man drilled in an angled shot from 12- yards, sparking an exodus from the disillusioned home fans.

Oldham's scant consolation arrived after 86 minutes when a Paul Smith free-kick was glanced beyond Perez by defender Andrew Holt.

Oldham manager, Andy Ritchie, insisted his side would get it right, saying "Once we get our experienced players back from injury it will make a big difference.

"Before then, we need to show more spirit and fight. I am not seeing enough of that at the moment"

U's Net Report

The team was unchanged today after Tom Cowan recovered from a hamstring problem, but the formation was changed as Roy McFarland opted for a wing-back system. Ian Ashbee dropped back from midfield into defence and Tom Cowan and Steve McAnespie were given the freedom to attack down the wings.

The game started with Cambridge United attacking the end where the travelling supporters were assembled and both sides made a lively start. In the third minute Craig Dudley got away down the right and beat John Dreyer for pace. His cross was headed firmly over the bar by Ashbee in front of the poised ex-U Corazzin. Three minutes later Neil Adams' cross was met by Corazzin's header and was headed away again by Ashbee, this time under pressure from Dudley.

In the ninth minute there was more heartache in front of goal for Zema Abbey. Alex Russell set him away to spring the offside trap by about ten yards, he took the ball round Gary Kelly but took too long over it and the shot was easily cleared by Lightfoot. A minute later Russell combined with Jonas Axeldal to send the Swede away down the left, but his cross was hooked over from a difficult angle by Abbey.

Moments later at the other end a deep cross found Corazzin, his header was cleared by Ashbee but only as far as Innes who header back was clawed away at full-stretch by Lionel Perez when a goal looked imminent. In the 15th minute Abbey burst forward and overhit a pass to Axeldal but he was clattered as he played the ball and United were awarded a free kick 35 yards out. The ball was touched to Ashbee whose thunderous shot was blocked away for a corner. Oldham counterattacked after it was cleared and Andy Duncan hooked the ball away from Corazzin.

The unfamiliar formation made United looked uncharacteristically vulnerable at the back and the U's were being caught out, particularly John Dreyer on the left of the back three, by the pace of Oldham's Dudley, while the wing backs were getting caught up the field as they tried to join with the midfield.

In the 31st minute McNiven's cross was met by Corazzin who climbed above Ashbee but headed wide. Two minutes later Innes linked up with Dudley down the left, his cross found Corazzin whose shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Dreyer. Then in the 36th minute Smith cut into the area and his shot was deflected between Dreyer's legs, hitting both feet before trickling through to Perez.

In the 37th minute Roy McFarland saw the error of his ways and switched the formation back to the familiar flat back four, and moments later Russell released Axeldal for a run on goal but his shot flashed just wide from the edge of the box. Two minutes later Abbey found Tom Youngs who fired wide from 15 yards, but on 44 minutes Smith managed to thread a ball between Paul Wanless and McAnespie, finding Corazzin whose shot from 12 yards was saved low down by Perez. Then on 45 minutes the Canadian was involved again when he beat the offside trap but Perez was out bravely to kick clear, the ball came back in again and Corazzin headed over from 10 yards.

From the goal kick and into stoppage time Tom Youngs latched onto a through ball and ran at the heart of the defence which parted like the Red Sea, took it to the edge of the box and stabbed it past Kelly to give United a one goal advantage at the break.

In his half-time summary Mark Johnson said, "Talk about against the run of play! It all looked to be going wrong and it's brave to change a formation in mid-half, but he's done it with instant results." Oldham Athletic 0 Cambridge United 1

The half started in torrential rain but United looked a different side after the change. On 46 minutes McNiven's cross looked dangerous until it was calmly chested back by Cowan to Perez, and a minute later Corazzin and Ashbee were seen pushing each other and arguing, out of which referee Mr Kaye managed to see a free kick for Oldham that Boshell fired over.

Then in the 48th minute United broke away and Russell crossed to Youngs, the young forward stooped into his header but put the ball just wide from 15 yards. A minute later a short corner routine by the U's saw Ashbee working the ball to Axeldal, but his shot on the turn was cleared off the line by Neil Adams, and at the other end in the 52nd minute Smith crossed for Corazzin but the tame downward header was easy for Perez.

Russell took a 53rd minute free kick for United 25 yards out and tapped the ball to Cowan, and his drive was tipped over by Kelly. Shortly afterwards there was an amazing spell of play by the U's in the next few minutes as three chances arrived in seconds. Axeldal put Youngs in down the right hand side, his shot from 12 yards on the angle was saved by Kelly who came out quickly to meet him. The rebound just ran away from Axeldal who still managed to control it and found Ashbee 20 yards out in a central position, and the midfielder's thunderous drive was punched out as far as Youngs whose shot from around 12 yards was again saved by Kelly.

Then in the 59th minute the lively Axeldal linked with Youngs on the overlap, he found Abbey in the middle who stretched to stab a shot in off the post but the flag was raised in a tight, but possibly just about correct, decision. A minute later Oldham brought a defender, Mark Watson, on for their creative midfielder Boshell.

United were unrecognisable after the reversion to a flat back four and in the 62nd minute Tom Youngs made it 2-0. A long ball down the middle from Perez was flicked on by Abbey to Russell, who was involved in everything, he found Youngs who beat the offside trap, took the ball round the keeper and produced a cool finish to tuck the ball home.

Oldham were immediately on the attack and drew a great reflex save from Perez after Dudley met a near post cross and saw his close-range header parried over the top by the Frenchman. Corazzin put the corner over the bar. In the 74th minute Russell broke away, brought the ball down on his chest and threaded a ball through to Youngs which was inches too far in front of him as he beat the offside trap. Youngs got a kick at that stage and was replaced on 75 minutes by Neil Mackenzie. United's second change came when Steve Slade replaced Axeldal in the 79th minute.

United made it three after 82 minutes when John Dreyer's vicious curling cross was tipped away as far as Alex Russell who hit a rasping drive from 20 yards through a crowded box, Sadly Dreyer was involved at the other end in the 86th minute when Smith's free kick flicked past Perez off the unfortunate defender, but United were strolling home at that stage and looked a completely different side to the one on the pitch for the first 37 minutes.

At the final whistle there was much mutual celebration between the players and the travelling supporters who ran down to the front of the stand and at times looked close to spilling onto the pitch. United stay sixth in the table after this win, with a game in hand on all but one of the sides above, while rivals Peterborough lost 4-1 to Millwall in their first match under new manager Mark McGhee.

Sporting Life Weekend Review

Walsall stayed on top of Division Two with the emphatic 5-1 rout of Notts County, who had won previously three of their four away games.

Pedro Matias, Brett Angell, Tom Bennett, Jorge Leitao and Darren Byfield were on the scoresheet for the Saddlers while, inevitably, Mark Stallard bagged County's consolation, his eighth of the season.

Bury jumped into second place with a 2-0 win at Swansea, Adrian Littlejohn and Jason Jarrett getting the goals, while Reading made it five wins out of six games with a 3-1 success at Rotherham.

Martin Butler, Jamie Cureton, with his ninth of the season, and Jim McIntyre among the Royals' goals, Mark Robins replying with a penalty for the not so merry Millers.

Wycombe stayed on the heels of the leaders, Andy Rammell giving them a 1-0 win at Port Vale, who are now without a win in six.

Bristol City ended a run of eight games without a win, Scott Murray's goal at the Manor Ground giving them a 1-0 victory over Oxford, who stay bottom after eight defeats in 10 matches.

Millwall remain unbeaten away from the New Den after a 4-1 success over Peterborough.

Joe Dolan and Lucas Neill put the Lions 2-0 in front before Tony Shields pulled one back for the Posh only for Sam Parkin with his fourth in three games and Aussie Tim Cahill to make the points safe.

Bristol Rovers are 12 matches without defeat and Luton 10 games without a win after they drew 3-3 at the Memorial Ground.

The Pirates led through Stephen Foster and two from Nathan Ellington but Tresor Kandol bagged two for the Hatters and Liam George squared things three minutes from time.

Northampton came from two down to draw 2-2 with Wrexham, who led through Martyn Chalk's first goal for three years and Mark McGregor.

But the Cobblers found heroes in Steve Howard and Jamie Forrester.

Stoke are unbeaten away from home and celebrated their Worthington Cup win at Charlton with a 1-0 triumph at Colchester, Peter Thorne netting the decider.

Swindon are still without a home win after a 2-2 draw with Wigan, who led through Simon Haworth's eighth of the season.

Gary Alexander and Mark Robinson put Town in front only for Scott Green to level four minutes from time.

There will be celebrations at Griffin Park after Brentford's first home league victory since January, a 3-2 success over Bournemouth, who are without an away win.

Andy Scott netted a brace for the Bees before Lorenzo Pinamonte scored their decider, Claus Jorgensen and a Richard Hughes penalty in the last minute the markers for the Cherries.

Yahoo League Table

Pos.	Team	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Walsall	10	7	2	1	22	11	+11	23
2	Bury	10	6	2	2	12	7	+5	20
3	Reading FC	10	6	1	3	23	10	+13	19
4	Wigan	9	5	3	1	13	8	+5	18
5	Wycombe	10	5	3	2	10	5	+5	18
6	Cambridge	9	5	2	2	17	8	+9	17
7	Millwall	8	5	1	2	18	8	+10	16
8	Bristol R	8	3	5	0	17	9	+8	14
9	Northampton	9	4	2	3	10	7	+3	14
10	Rotherham	10	4	2	4	13	17	-4	14
11	Stoke	8	3	4	1	14	7	+7	13
12	Colchester	9	2	5	2	9	8	+1	11
13	Wrexham	9	3	2	4	14	15	-1	11
14	Swansea	9	3	2	4	8	10	-2	11
15	Notts Co	10	3	2	5	10	15	-5	11
16	Brentford	9	2	5	2	10	16	-6	11
17	Peterborough	10	3	2	5	10	16	-6	11
18	Bristol C	8	2	2	4	5	6	-1	8
19	Bournemouth	10	1	5	4	12	14	-2	8
20	Port Vale	9	2	2	5	9	14	-5	8
21	Swindon	8	2	2	4	7	16	-9	8
22	Luton	10	1	4	5	9	17	-8	7
23	Oldham	10	1	3	6	11	22	-11	6
24	Oxford	10	1	1	8	5	22	-17	4