Oldham Match Report
Saturday 24th August 2013
Oldham Athletic v Port Vale
League One
Sidney Schmetlz, Cliff Byrne, Anton Rodgers, Jose Baxter, Kirk Millar, Danny Philliskirk, Joel Coleman SUBS: Mark Oxley, Connor Brown, Jonathan Grounds, James Wesowloski, Jmes Tarkowski, Korey Smith, Adam Rooney, Cristian Montano, Jonson Clarke_Harris, James Dayton, Joseph Mills. OLDHAM ATHLETIC:
4,788 including 1,115 visiting supporters At Boundary Park
Attendance:
Liam Chilvers, Louis Dodds, Chris Shuker, Ben Williamson, Anthony Griffith, Richard Duffy, Chris Birchall SUBS: Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Daniel Jones, Chris Robertson, Carl Dickinson, Doug Loft, Jennsion Myrie-Williams, Tom Pope, Chris Lines, Kaid Mohamed, Lee Hughes. :
As expected, given the performance and result the previous weekend against Bradford City, Vale were unchanged for the game at Boundary Park against an Oldham Athletic side who had lost their three previous games.
Vale went on the offensive right from the kick off an their policy almost paid off with less than a minute on the clock when Latics’ ‘keeper Mark Oxley dropped the ball, but Tom Pope couldn’t wuite take full advantage.
It was soon evident that Vale hadn’t come for anything else but the three points and they were showing a willingness to attack the home side at every opportunity
An overlapping Daniel Jones put in a low cross from the left which Oldham debutant Joseph Mills was grateful to put out for a corner kick.
At the other end Vale had Chris Neal to thank for a terrific save to keep out Adam Rooney, going down sharply to his right to make the save, but a minute later the home side were in front.
GOAL: got in behind the Vale defence to meet a left wing cross with a powerful stooping header which hit the back of the Vale net with some force.ROONEYThis time
An altercation between Lee Hughes and Oldham’s Connor Brown saw both players yellow carded after the referee, his linesman and the fourth official discussed the incident.
Vale ere still very much in the game and continued to push forward and they were rewarded on the half hour when they found themselves on level terms.
GOAL: cut inside before picking his spot, firing past Oxley into the far corner of the net.JENNISON MYRIE-WILLIAMSPicking the ball up in the inside right position,
Jonson Clarke-Harris almost capitalised on a mistake at the other end, but fired well over the crossbar when he really ought o have done better.
Vale were then given the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Lee Hughes robbed Jonathan Grounds wide on the right then ran into the box with the defender not far behind him.
Just as Hughes reached the byeline, he appeared to be tripped by Grounds and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.
Hughes placed the ball onto the spot and hit the penalty straight down the middle, but Oxley, who had dived to his right, managed to stop the ball with his feet.
On the stroke of half time Kaid Mohamed and Myrie-Williams combined for the latter to send in an inch-perfect cross for Pope, but the Vale striker, who hasn’t yet recaptured his goals coring touch, headed over the crossbar from close range.
The home side went close early in the second half when defender James Tarkowski met a free kick just on the edge of the 6 yard box, but somehow headed over the bar.
GOAL:, who slammed the ball into an empty net.ROONEY minute when Vale failed to clear and the ball eventually rolled for thBut Oldham got a deserved goal in the 56
minute when Ben Williamson came off the bench ro replace Lee Hughes in the Vale attack.thVale made a change in the 64
Korey Smith went close to increasing the home side’s lead with a 35 yard effort which dropped late and hit the top of the net, though in fairness Neal had it covered all the way.
minute Louis Dodds was thrown up front when he came on to replace Mohamed, as Vale went chasing an equaliser.thThen in the 70
GOAL: finding the net with an almost carbon copy of Myrie-Williams’ goal in the first half.JAMES DAYTONIt was the home side who were to grab the next goal, however, with
Vale responded with the substitution of Myrie-Williams, who was sacrificed in order that Chris Shuker got his opportunity to impress.
The home side bossed the rest of the match with Vale looking a shadow of the side that did so well against Bradford and were prevented from further rubbing salt in Vale’s wounds, but for a spectacular save from Neal to keep out a screamer from Jose Baxter.