Welcome
to today's issue of
BOUNDARY
BULLET-zine
The
Daily On-line e-zine for Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide
Today's
Edition for
2nd September 1999
Today's Headlines
Whitehall
to start against Gills
Reserves
lose to Wolves
Tony Bugby of the Oldham
Evening Chronicle writes,
ATHLETIC'S
desperate search for firepower is likely to result in Steve Whitehall being
restored to their front line in Saturday's battle of the bottom two at
Gillingham. The 32-year-old striker,
who hasn't played since undergoing ankle surgery at the end of last season,
is named in Athletic's squad — his first senior call of the campaign. Whitehall
was taken off after an hour of last night's 2-1 home reserve-team defeat
by Wolves — an indication that he is likely to feature prominently on Saturday.
Matthew Tipton also staked a claim for a starting spot by scoring Athletic's
goal.
The
young Welshman and Whitehall, who managed to score only four goals in his
debut season, formed a promising partnership so Andy Ritchie could pitch
the pair into the first-team together as Athletic bid to score their first
league goal of the campaign. Paul Beavers, who is struggling to recapture
his form, won't be included in the party for the visit to Priestfield,
nor will teenager Ryan Sugden. The Athletic manager believes once they
can end their scoring blues — they have found the net only once in six
league and cup matches — they can climb out of the basement zone.
Ritchie
said: "Wigan are top and have conceded six goals. We are bottom and have
let in five. "Colchester are four or five places above us and yet have
conceded 14 goals. "We are defending quite well, but it shows where our
problem lies — a lack of goals." Athletic's home reserve-team match against
Huddersfield has been put back 24 hours to Wednesday, September 15 because
of the Terriers' Worthington Cup involvement.
Michael
Yarwood reports on last night's reserve action
ATHLETIC
RESERVES 1: WOLVES RESERVES 2
ATHLETIC
went down to an unlucky Pontins League defeat at Boundary Park last night
but could take a double consolation from their evening's work. Those
comforts were the respective displays of their front two, Matthew Tipton
and Steve Whitehall. Tipton has drifted from the first-team picture recently,
but he played with plenty of spark and imagination, as well as scoring
Athletic's goal. Whitehall also contributed
well to a lively attacking performance and, before being withdrawn shortly
after the hour mark, looked to have regained enough fitness to answer any
call from Andy Ritchie to solve Athletic's scoring problems. Athletic played
a sweeper system for most of the match, a ploy designed to help ease the
transition for any player who graduates to senior level.
They
didn't always look comfortable, however, and it was defensive uncertainty
which led to the visitors' 24th-minute opener —knocked in by Robert Neistroj
after 'keeper John Mohan had parried Mark Jones' initial shot. The lead
was quickly cancelled out by Tipton, who turned on the edge of the Wolves
box and, with the minimum of backlift, fired a powerful snapshot just inside
the right-hand post. Vastly-experienced
Wolves winger Paul Simpson saw a 29th minute penalty saved by Mohan — after
a needless handball by Iain Swan. Young Latics defender Ben Futcher then
had a header cleared off the line and there were chances for Whitehall
and Danny Walsh, plus Jones of Wolves, to round off an entertaining first
half.
Whitehall's
header hit the outside of a post shortly after the restart and Danny Boshell
also went close for the hosts after excellent build-up play between Tipton
and Lee Clitheroe, who is again looking a useful prospect in midfield as
he recovers from a broken leg. It was Wolves, however, who nicked the deciding
goal 11 minutes from time when Shane Tudor ran on to a through ball and
advanced before burying his shot from 12 yards.
ATHLETIC:
Mohan, Tait, McLean (Wharton 63), Hotte, Swan, Futcher, Clitheroe, Boshell
(Gardner 84), Tipton, Walsh, Whitehall (Wardle 63). Subs (not used): Campbell,
McLaughlin.
Teamtalk
Oldham
Whitehall's
successful return
Steve Whitehall returned from injury and
safely came through a reserve game last night, which will be music to the
ears of Andy Ritchie. Oldham reserves lost 2-1 at home to Wolves at Boundary
Park, but 32 year old Whitehall played for more than an hour and showed
no signs of a reaction to the ankle injury which has kept him out since
last April. He will now almost certainly be included in the first team
squad for the trip to Gillingham on Saturday. Matthew Tipton bagged the
Latics' only goal against Wolves, his second in successive second string
outings, and he could now also figure in the first team plans for the weekend.
Yahoo Football
Oldham
Graham back at last!
Injury-jinxed Richard Graham is back
in full training, and the big defender is anxious to make up for lost time.
The 24 year old has seen his career cursed by serious injuries - the latest
leaving him nine months on the treatment table. He has now made a full
recovery from a torn knee ligament, however, which kept him down to just
15 appearances last season. Graham has since endured months of pain, and
he admitted: "It hasn't been the best of times." The player also picked
up an injury in the previous season which cost him half of that campaign,
and added: "Being out for so long is very frustrating. I am here to play
football and that's all I want to do. The worst thing is the boredom because
most of the time you have to rest the injury.
"They are an occupational hazard,
but I now keeping my fingers crossed that the latest one is my last." Graham
has just rejoined his team mates back on the training ground and his aim
is to be ready for a return to first team action within a month. Despite
being sidelined so often and for so long, Dewsbury-born Graham has still
played more than 150 games for the Latics. Before his long-term injuries
he was watched by scouts from all over the country, and a £1m price
tag was placed on his head.
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