Junior finally decides
Match reports from Oldham Evening Chronicle
Manchester Evening News and Sheffield Star
Droylesden up next

Although Adrian Heath's men faded badly, it still needed character to send them home with nothing to show for their efforts. They are a neat. and tidy side with neat and tidy players, not least England under-21 left-back Wayne Quinn and new Belgian signing Axel Smeets. For Athletic. Kelly was outstanding. Andrew Holt looked solid at centre-half and all four available strikers showed Ritchie they'll be raring to go when the real action begins.

With the big kick-off in mind, Ritchie rested John Sheridan and left out defender Stuart Thorn. who is suspended for the first game. Phil Salt slotted into midfield, while Holt's move inside allowed Paul Rickers to enter the unfamiliar territory of left-back.

Unfortunately for Rickers, he was pitched into direct conflict with Smeets, a dangerous winger newly arrived from the Spanish League and likely to be a real handful for division one defences. Smeets only stopped giving Rickers the runaround when the Blades lost their collective cutting edge and there is every chance that Ian McLean, who came off the bench, will be back in the side on Saturday. Athletic played some attractive passing football early on, but United's grip on midfield soon spread across the whole pitch. They deserved some reward for their enterprise and after Kelly had twice denied them, the Yorkshiremen went in front when a 29th-minute cross from Smeets was headed in from eight yards by the unmarked Paul Devlin.

Though Kelly had to make four more saves before the break, Ritchie kept faith with his starting line-up. The decision paid rich dividends. beginning in the 51st minute. Lee Duxbury won a midfield challenge before releasing Mark Allott in the inside-right channel. Allott gave grateful thanks for the assist by placing a cracking drive inside Simon Tracey's left-hand post for a goal which should do wonders for his spirits. Though Allott and Junior Agogo - white boots glinting in the sun - had begun to make an impact. they made way for Matthew Tipton and Ryan Sugden.

It proved a wise move. for Tipton and Sugden were involved in the winning strike - one which highlighted why Athletic's youngsters are so important to the club's future. Salt initiated the move by lifting an intelligent ball into the path of Sugden. The teenager picked out Tipton deep in the United area and when Tracey pushed away the close-range shot. Mark Innes was on hand for a simple tap-in. It was a goal conceived, manufactured and finished by products of the Boundary Park youth system.

Ritchie will be hoping it is the first of many.

ATHLETIC Kelly, McNiven, Holt, Garnett (Thom 74), Ricker's, Duxbury (McLean 78), Adams, Salt, Allott (Tipton 62), Agogo (Sugden), Innes. Subs (not used) Hotte, Miskelly

SHEFFIELD UNITED Tracey, Ford, Quinn, Hunt, Murphy, Sandford, Smeets, Derry (Burley 64), Devlin, Katchouro, Hamilton. Subs (not used): Kozluk. Cryan, Doane, Davies.

REFEREE: Mr S Lodge (Barnsley).

ATTENDANCE: 1,506.

FROM THE SHEFFIELD STAR

We're so pleased to Smeets you!  Blades Match Report by Jon West  IT was the sort of weather that meant only a handful of United fans would be travelling further than their own back gardens. Certainly it was too hot for football.  But those who made the trip to Oldham’s Boundary Park will have been impressed by the performance of Axel Smeets.  The Belgian had an excellent first 45 minutes and, by and large, so did United as they threatened to over-run their Second Division opponents.  Smeets, whose only previous sighting had been a tough baptism at Doncaster, showed that not only does he possess the pace and confidence to take on and beat a full-back but also that he can deliver a quality ball afterwards.  The goal, in the 29th minute, was proof as Smeets whipped the ball in for Paul Devlin to nod past Alan Kelly’s brother Gary in the Oldham goal. Kelly’s defence was nowhere and that was Devlin’s fourth goal in a week following his hat-trick at York on Tuesday night.  Smeets had already been denied a by Kelly’s legs in the 11th minute and almost forced Paul Rickers to put through his own goal 12 minutes later.  Devlin forced two more saves from Kelly and Hunt another with a long-range effort and it looked at the break as though United were thoroughly prepared for when it all starts for real next week at Portsmouth.  But it was a different story after the break and Oldham equalised almost straight away when Mark Allott was allowed to get on the end of a ball through the heart of the United defence.  The game wilted in the heat after that but once the home side had introduced a trio of lively youngsters United were suddenly under pressure.  Suspended  Substitutes Ryan Sugden and Matthew Tipton combined to force a save out of Tracey and Mark Innes was there to tap in the winner.  With Rob Kozluk suspended for the first two league games Bobby Ford has an opportunity to make the right-back slot his own.  Curtis Woodhouse was rested with a thigh strain, which meant Hunt and Derry played in the centre and Hamilton on the left. Oldham, who drew 0-0 with Blackburn in midweek, completed an unbeaten pre-season and fielded on-loan Owl Junior Agogo.  http://www.sheffweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/edwebreader.cgi?mode=story&pub=003&date=latest&section=sport&story=001.story   MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS Ritchie keeps cool on warm-ups  Oldham 2 Sheffield U 1  OLDHAM made it five games unbeaten in pre-season warm-ups but boss Andy Ritchie insisted: ``It means nothing.''  He explained: ``You can't read anything into these matches - it is what we do when the season starts.''  Paul Devlin gave United a 28th-minute lead but Latics stunned them after the break. Mark Allott levelled in the 51st minute and Mark Innes poached a delightful winner with 15 minutes to go.  Ritchie added: ``The unbeaten run has been great for team spirit and confidence.''

Latics takeover bid

J W Lees Brewery who are the 48% major shareholders in the Latics are in talks with the accountants of a group of local Oldham businessmen in a deal that will see their 19,000 shares change hands.

It is the best offer that the brewery have had for the stake in the club and at present it appears that there are no other interested parties. With this in mind it would look increasingly likely that if a price can be agreed then the club may see itself in different hands ahead of the new season.

As yet there has been no indication of the figure involved but a deal is expected to go through within the next 7-10 days.