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BOUNDARY BULLET-zine

The Daily On-line e-zine for Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide

Today's Edition for

          5th September 1999 


Today's Headlines


 Teamtalk Oldham
Match details

Division 2
         
GILLINGHAM  OLDHAM  FULL TIME
Taylor 4       McNiven, S 88
Omoyimni 6        
         
15:00:00 Kickoff        
Ref: P. Rejer        
         
Gillingham: Bartram, Patterson (Miller 71), Ashby, Hessenthaler, Southall, Taylor (Nosworthy 90), Pennock, Saunders, Lewis, Omoyimni (Hodge 76), Smith
Subs not used: Butters, Thomson
Yellow Cards: None
 
Oldham: Kelly, McNiven, S, Holt, Garnett, Rickers, Duxbury, Sheridan, Innes (Tipton 56), Adams, Allott (Sugden 71), Beavers (Whitehall 34)
Subs not used: Mohan, Tait
Yellow Cards: Duxbury (43), Allott (50)
 
Attendance - 5,884

 
 

One goal but no points

Scott McNiven finally notched the Latics' first goal but the first point of this season proved elusive as the Gills recorded a 2-1 win. The game appeared to over bar the shouting after the Latics went two behind in with barely 6 minutes showing on the clock. Robert Taylor's low shot from 15 yards found the bottom corner and then a goal seconds later from West Ham loan star, Mani Omoyimni ensured that the Latics made the worst possible start against fellow strugglers Gillingham. After going two down the Latics were unable to find any sort of rhythm, losing possession time and again, with the only chance coming the way of Paul Rickers who shot tamely over the bar. Paul Smith could've extended the lead and Andy Ritchie will have been thankfully to get his squad back in at the interval only two goals behind. The boss' half time team talk gave his team some inspiration as the Latics started to make a fight of it in the second half. John Sheridan's free kick hit the wall and dipped over, whilst Andy Holt's left foot drive was well saved by Vince Bartram. Finally though, after 6 hrs 28 minutes of this season had passed the Latics put the ball in the back of the net for the first time. It was a fine header from Scott McNiven from a fair distance that broke the Latics duck but unfortunately proved to be just a consolation and Ritchie will be hoping that his side can go one better and claim a point next week in the Lancashire derby with Bury.
Major Thom boost
Defender Stuart Thom, who broke his toe in a cup match with Stockport, is nearing a return to action and should be back for the game against Bury. The 23 year old is gaining a reputation as something of an unlucky footballer and he certainly enhanced his jinxed reputation when he broke his toe whilst making his first appearance of the season against Stockport in the first leg of their Worthington Cup tie.
Thom has been under treatment ever since but has now been pencilled in for a comeback in next Saturday's home game against the Shakers. Ritchie claims: "It will be a tremendous boost to have him back, there is no doubt we have missed his influence."


 Yahoo Football Oldham

Goals and points needed

Experienced striker Steve Whitehall returns to the Latics side this afternoon with Andy Ritchie insisting: "He is ready and we need him." The 32 year old striker hasn't played since undergoing an ankle operation back in April but Ritchie claims: "Steve has a good strike rate and his experience could be vital." "Although we have yet to score we have not stopped creating chances and I am hoping he will be the one to put them away. Steve has now got a few games under his belt and I feel the time is right to pitch him in." However there is no place for Paul Beavers. The 20 year old has struggled at Boundary Park since his free transfer move from Sunderland and needs to recapture his form. The Latics, of course, will be hoping that they can score their first league goal and collect their first point of the season on Saturday, but Ritchie knows it won't be easy against the Gills. "Gillingham are a big, strong side and we have to make sure we complete." For all the problems so far this season Ritchie remains very optimistic, pointing out that his Latics team have conceded less goals that division leaders Wigan. "We are bottom and have let in just five, Wigan are top but have conceded six. We are defending well, but it shows where our problem lies - a lack of goals. I am convinced that once we start to hit the target we will go from strength to strength."
Express Sport Omoyimni sets Gills on victory trail
Gillingham 2 Oldham 1

Gillingham boss Peter Taylor celebrated his first league win in charge at Priestfield, after seeing his team get off to a flying start against Oldham.  The northerners had arrived in Kent without a point or a goal to their name in the league this season. This time last year Taylor would have been at Wembley, involved in England's Euro 2000 qualifier, but after being controversially sacked from his role with the Under-21 side, found himself back in club management and impatient for an elusive first victory. Taylor signed West Ham youngster Emmanuel Omoyimni on a month's loan on Thursday and the 21-year-old Nigerian wasted no time in making an impact. Gillingham were two goals up in the opening six minutes and Omoyimni played a part in both.

They have lacked pace up front in the early weeks of the season following the loss of top striker Carl Asaba due to a long-term groin injury and Omoyimni was drafted in to support Robert Taylor. The two combined well for the first strike. Omoyimni provided the pass and Taylor steadied himself before shooting beyond Gary Kelly for his fourth goal in four games. Within two minutes Gillingham had increased their lead. Player-coach Andy Hessenthaler set up the chance and with the Oldham defence in disarray Omoyimni nipped in to celebrate his debut with a two-yard effort. Oldham were rewarded for their persistence two minutes from time when defender Scott McNiven headed home Paul Rickers' cross from 12 yards. It had taken Oldham 448 minutes to get off the mark this season and the late strike at last gave their travelling fans grouped behind the goal something to celebrate.


 Sunday Mirror

MANNY'S THE MAN FOR GILLS

GILLINGHAM 2 OLDHAM 1

Gillingham manager Peter Taylor savoured his first League win in charge at the sixth attempt, but most of the credit must go to new boy "Manny" Omoyimni, signed on loan from West Ham. The 21-year-old Nigerian-born former England schoolboy international was snapped up by Taylor in order to inject pace up front. Omoyimni began well, setting up the fourth-minute opener for Robert Taylor, and then went one better, scoring the second himself as Gillingham went 2-0 up inside the first ten minutes. He admitted: "There's great competition for places, but I was pleased to come here. It was nice to get on the scoresheet myself." Oldham, without a goal or a point before yesterday, kept pressing and were eventually rewarded with an 88th-minute goal by defender Scott McNiven.


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