Welcome to today's issue of BOUNDARY BULLET-zine The Daily On-line e-zine for 273 Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide Today's Edition for

3rd September 2000

Welcome to new subscribers in Newark and Royton Today's Headlines

County win at Oldham

A couple of supporters have asked me about the player sponsorship again. We collected £280. Voting by those who contributed led to us sponsoring Gary Kelly's away shirt. The cost of the sponsorship was £225 plus £39.39 vat. At the and of the season we get Gary Kelly's shirt autographed. For each £5 contributed you will get a entry into a draw for the shirt. There is a balance of £20 left which can be used for next season's sponsorship. If anyone wants a copy of the invoice let me know and I will mail it to you.

Manchester Evening News Oldham fail to find form
OLDHAM’S Andy Ritchie kept his players locked in the dressing room for an hour after the game and emerged grim faced to admit: ‘‘We were bad - it’s as simple as that.’’ The Latics never got to grips with the game and surrendered three more vital home points. Yet it all looked so promising on the opening day of the season when they thrashed Port Vale 4-1. But since then it has been mostly downhill and this was their second home defeat on the trot. Even so, Ritchie who slammed his players for lack of passion still insists: ‘‘We will get it right.’’ But the players must respond better than this if they are to halt their slide down the table. They rarely troubled a well-drilled County defence and keeper Darren Ward must have had one of his easiest afternoons so far.There is no doubt that Oldham missed the strength of striker Carlo Corazzin who was away on international duty with Canada. He provides a presence in the box which was sadly lacking yesterday afternoon. Ritchie tried to change things round via opting for a 4-2-2 formation in the 2nd half, but that failed to make the desired impression. Oldham did create a few chances, but for some reason they seemed to have lost their touch in front of goal. It really came as no surprise when County took the lead with a goal that was to keep their 100per cent away record. Even that was down to some poor defending.

Craig Ramage did the damage in the 42nd minute with a clever reverse pass into the path of Gary Owers. The former Sunderland mid-fielder burst into the box totally unmarked and he was left with plenty of time and space to unleash a stinging shot from 12 yards out which left keeper Gary Kelly with no chance. The Latics desperately tried to get back into what had become a dour contest, but they rarely rose above the mediocre. Ritchie said ‘‘We have to get the lads up again and they have to do their part. They can do it in training, but then leave it in the dressing room. They need more enthusiasm and fire in their bellies. You can’t afford not to play for the full 90 minutes, doing it in fits and starts just isn’t good enough.’’ Even County Boss Jocky Scott said ‘‘You always worry with a slender score line like this, because sides no matter how badly they are playing can always sneak a goal. But this was as comfortable a 1-0 win as you can get.’’

Sporting Life Saturday Review

Ray Graydon's Walsall made it five wins out of five - handing previously-unbeaten Wigan their first defeat of the season.

Jorge Leitao's third goal of the season after 10 minutes put the Saddlers in front and Dean Keates made it 2-0 with a simple tap-in six minutes later.

Peterborough went in front after 30 minutes through Francis Green but Bury maintained a terrific record at London Road when Darren Bullock headed home after 78 minutes to make it 1-1 and give the Shakers a fourth consecutive draw with the Posh.

Brentford, without a home win since last January, were lucky against Wycombe when Steve Brown missed a penalty early in the second half but they will be happy with a 0-0 draw after losing 6-1 at home last time out.

Oxford scored their first home goal of the season when Lee Jarman hammered home a 25-yard shot after 15 minutes against Cambridge. But Oxford had to be content with their first point when the visitors hit back, Tom Youngs making it 1-1 five minutes later

Oldham are without a win since the opening day of the campaign, Gary Owers netting the only goal to give Notts County a 1-0 success.

Aaron Skelton netted twice in the first half for Colchester but after Bournemouth's Danny Smith was sent off in the 37th minute Claus Jorgensen pulled one back a minute before the break only to be shown the red card himself after 69 minutes. Former Ipswich veteran Mike Stockwell made it 3-1.

Port Vale conceded their first goal at home through Reading's Jamie Cureton with a close range header in the fifth minute and it stayed 1-0.

Rotherham were trailing Luton for an hour at Millmoor after Andrew Fotiadis, with his first goal for a year, gave the Hatters the lead in the sixth minute.

Former Manchester United striker Mark Robins made it 1-1 when he tapped in a rebound to give the Millers their first home point after two defeats.

Sport.com Notts County lived up to their billing as away day specialists by keeping up an impressive 100 per cent record on their travels. The Magpies have yet to concede a league goal away from Meadow Lane and were always in command thanks to a Gary Owers strike and their well-drilled defence. Oldham, whose players were kept in the dressing room for an hour by angry manager Andy Ritchie, hardly posed a threat in a poor game and are without a win since the opening day. They lacked any sparkle and will be relieved to welcome back both Carlo Corazzin from international duty with Canada and their injured playmaker John Sheridan. The only action of the first 20 minutes was a clash between Andy McDermott and home striker Matthew Tipton, the County man aiming a kick at his rival. The first serious shot came when Ian Hamilton slammed a free kick just wide from the edge of the box while Craig Ramage volleyed wide as the visitors played what little decent football was on offer.

Tipton didn't catch his shot cleanly from one of very few openings for Oldham and they paid the price when Owers pounced for the winner three minutes before half time. Ramage and David Joseaf were involved just outside the area, holding up play as Owers attacked the space from deep. The clever move saw Owers dash through on the right-hand side before hitting a powerful drive high inside the post from eight yards. Oldham made a double change shortly after half time in a bid to rouse themselves, but County should have doubled the lead after 57 minutes when Joseaf headed across goal and Mark Stallard failed to get the final touch. The visitors could also have had a penalty when Richard Liburd looked to be tripped by Neil Adams as he bore down on goal.

County remained in charge as Oldham, lacking Sheridan inspiration, struggled to create any chances. Richie said, "We were bad, it's as simple as that. The players know how I feel but it will be kept to the confines of the dressing room. "They need to pick themselves up but it's no good doing that in training and then leaving it in the dressing room on the day. "They need to have fire in their bellies for the full 90 minutes instead of only doing it in fits and starts. "If they don't respond to what we need they'll soon find themselves at the wrong end of the table."

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