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The Unofficial Daily On-line e-zine for 250 Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide Today's Edition for

8th March 2002

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Oldham Evening Chronicle (www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk) Beharall signs in £150,000 swoop ATHLETIC have tied up a £150,000 move for Newcastle United defender David Beharall. The 6ft 2ins Geordie, who had been on loan at Boundary Park since November, signed a long-term contract to the summer of 2005. Beharall became an instant regular when coach Mick Wadsworth made him his first recruit after replacing Andy Ritchie. He signed on loan to the end of the season, but Athletic wanted to ensure the centre-back – whose 23rd birthday is tomorrow – didn’t go elsewhere before the transfer deadline. Wadsworth knew the player well from their time at St James’s Park, where the Athletic boss was a former assistant manager. And when it became clear Beharall wouldn’t make Bobby Robson’s squad, which is currently vying for the Premiership title, he moved in. Wadsworth said: “I had no doubts about David – I always liked him at Newcastle and he was unfortunate to be at a big club with not much of a way through. “He was down the pecking order, so this move will do him good because you can stay at a big club for too long. “These days you need centre-backs who have good pace and can play a bit, both of which apply to David. “There are certain things he can improve, but he is ambitious and intelligent enough to work hard on them and become an even better player in the future.” Athletic reserves’ Manchester Senior Cup tie against Manchester City has been rearranged for tonight at Hyde (7.0) after it was called off at short notice yesterday because high winds damaged cladding on a stand at Ewen Fields. The tie will give head coach Mick Wadsworth the chance to check out six trialists. They are QPR pair Marcel Nugent, a right-back, and striker Alistair Hezelton, Barnsley centre-half Graham Gartland, Sheffield Wednesday striker Dean Cropper, Newcastle striker Johnny Mann and Dutch midfield player Robby Busscher, from Feyenoord, who is an under-16, 17 and 18 international. John Sheridan, Lee Duxbury, Tony Carss, Wayne Gill and Paul Jones all make welcome returns to action after injury lay-offs. Wadsworth is hoping striker David Reeves, who was injured in a freak pre-match accident at Bury on Tuesday, may be fit for Saturday’s derby at Wigan. Reeves was bending down to tie a boot lace when a stray ball hit a divot on the rutted pitch and caught him in the face. The blow affected his sight but a doctor has checked out Reeves’ bloodshot eye and found no damage.

Don't forget the BBz/Rivals Message Board at http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=939&p=16&forumid=5973BBz Web Site archive is at http://www.oocities.org/laticsgary.geo

Dave (at the Bookies) will not be able to do the bookies odds after the Cardiff game up to the end of the season. If anyone is willing to do it for 4 or 5 weeks please let me know. You will be supplied with all the links and instructions on how to go about it. It takes only 10 - 15 minutes for each game.

Official Oldham Athletic Web Site (www.oldhamathletic.co.uk)Content from the Oldham Athletic Web Site is used with permission of Oldham Athletic Football Club REEVES - INJURY UPDATE

Oldham Athletic striker, David Reeves has seen an eye specialist today and has been informed that he has damaged his retina and told not to train until Monday when he will see the player again for a further check up. The injury is a blow for Reeves who is now ruled out of the squad for the trip to local rivals Wigan.

Oldham Athletic Reserves vs. Manchester City Reserves

Latics Reserves travelled to Hyde United's Ewan Fields ground on Thursday night to take on Manchester City Reserves in the Manchester Senior Cup. On a fairly mild night, the fixture was used by the coaching staff to show off some recently acquired young talent. There was 6 trialists on show, QPR full back Marcel Nugent and striker Alistair Hezelton, Barnley’s Graham Gartland, Sheffield Wednesday striker Dene Cropper and Dutch midfielder Robby Busscher who plays for Feyenord Youth. The Latics made a fairly promising start to this postponed fixture and played some good, fluid football in the early stages. A good period of play saw Wayne Gill to move into a goal scoring position after 20 minutes. He duly converted his chance to put the Latics in front. Hampered by a truly awful pitch, the Latics managed to string some good moves together though midfield and push forward from the break, the trialist's showing some neat touches throughout. The scores remained tied with no one looking like finding the back of the net although the team pushed well and showed promise and movement, though perhaps lacked that crucial final touch. Full time approached and a fine surge forward followed by a generous lay-off found Johnny Mann in full flight. Mann tried the shot from close range and everyone present was shocked to see him fail to find the target. The last goal-scoring chance went begging and the Latics were shocked when seconds later City Hitman Tyrone managed to sneak one past 'keeper Whittle in the 93rd minute. A good victory in atrocious conditions was destined to evade the Latics. The penalty shoot out ensued and some good work from the two Lee's- Hardy and Duxbury and a good save from 'keeper Whittle made sure that it went down to the wire. City, unfazed, continued on and calmly slotted the ball past the diving whittle to seal it for the Sky Blues. The Latics were disappointed not to come away from this fixture victorious after dominating play and bearing witness to Mann missing the target in the final stages to seal victory. Nonetheless they played some good football in poor conditions and the trialists seemed to gel well together. The Latics should put this agonising penalty shoot out behind them and concentrate on the future. The future's bright... Squad as follows: 1. Tom Whittle
2. Marcel Nugent
3. Adam Griffin
4. Graham Gartland
5. Paul Jones
6. John Sheridan
7. Wayne Gill
8. Tony Carss
9. Dean Cropper
10. Johnny Mann
11. Lee Hardy
12. Lee Duxbury
13. Chris Grange
14. Alistair Hezelton
15. Robby Busscher

TEAMtalk (www.teamtalk.co.uk) Wadsworth hails new signing
Mick Wadsworth has admitted he never had any doubts about new signing David Beharall's ability from the moment he arrived at the club. The Latics turned the classy defender's loan deal into a permanent move on Wednesday when they paid £150,000 to Newcastle United and the boss believes the young defender will be a great acquisition to the club. Beharall, who celebrates his 23rd birthday on Friday, was Wadsworth's first signing when he took charge at Boundary Park back in November, when he secured the player on loan for the remainder of the season. Beharall quickly established himself at the heart of The Latics defence and Wadsworth has been trying to sign him on a permanent basis since before Christmas. He said: "From the first moment he arrived I had no doubts about his ability. "David is very quick and he can also bring the ball out of defence as well as being a good, dependable defender. "There are some areas he needs to work on and I know that he will improve as a player as time goes on." The Latics back four is now made up of teenager Chris Armstrong, Beharall, Frenchman Julien Baudet and former Manchester United player Michael Clegg, both of whom are in their early twenties. Wadsworth added: "Signing David is a mark of what we are trying to do. "The average age of our defence is quite young and I am sure they will all become worthwhile assets." Beharall, who would have been stuck in Newcastle's reserves had he gone back to St James' Park, has signed a contract until the summer of 2005. Wadsworth said: "Players like him need to get out because you can stay at big clubs too long. "There is now a great opportunity for him to move forward and he knows what we are trying to achieve here. "He is level-headed, intelligent and ambitious and I admire that."

Duo face late tests
Paul Jewell will run fitness tests on Gary Teale and Matt Jackson before finalising team plans for tomorrow's Lancashire derby clash with Oldham. The pair picked up injuries in the midweek win over Cambridge and Wigan boss Jewell will want a full squad to choose from. There is little margin for error left if Latics are to force their way into an unexpected play-off spot. And Jewell admits having the pair available for selection would be important for the hopes of recording a morale-boosting derby win.
Jewell said: "Teale looked sharp against Cambridge, he looked as though he was really up for it, so that was a bit of setback for him. He's got a tight hamstring. And Jacko's got a bang on the knee so we will have to wait and see how they are." Jackson has made 20 league appearances for Latics this season and Teale has made 17 with one goal to show for his efforts.

Boss blasts defensive errors Wigan boss Paul Jewell has blasted his defence and demanded an improvement ahead of tomorrow's derby clash with Oldham. Jewell was highly critical of his side despite their recording an impressive-looking 4-1 home win over Cambridge in midweek. The Latics chief claimed his side could do much better - especially at the back where he was critical of collective and individual performances. Jewell said: "I've got to say I wasn't happy with our back four. We have been really solid of late - De Zeeuw's a rock at the back, but he almost looked human against Cambridge. "Him and Jason De Vos let the centre-forwards come off too often, and weren't really on top of their game, but again we dug in there, and that's going to happen. "They've set high standards of late, and they just dropped below them against Cambridge. But they're good pros in there, they're a little bit disappointed with their own performance, if not the teams." At least Jewell could draw comfort from the other end of the field where Lee McCulloch and hat-trick hero Andy Liddell gave their boss cause for optimism. Jewell added: "Lee McCulloch played well, I was pleased he scored. I thought him and Andy Liddell were excellent, especially in the first half." Toure on road to recovery
Alioune Toure will make his first appearance for over three months when he lines up for City's second string in their clash with Oldham tonight. Paulo Wanchope's continued absence through a knee injury increased Kevin Keegan's need for striking cover, and the City boss will be desperately hoping Toure comes through the Manchester Senior Cup game at Hyde with no problems. The French frontman has had a nightmare time since he arrived at Maine Road last September from Nantes after succumbing to a serious blood disorder. Toure suffers from a rare condition that means he has to take regular medication to prevent his blood from clotting, causing deep vein thrombosis. And the 23-year-old suffered a major scare on the way down to Portsmouth for City's league clash when the lengthy journey threatened to trigger his condition. His last appearance for the club came as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn in the Worthington Cup nine days later, but despite fears he would miss the rest of the season he is finally ready to stake a claim for a first-team place.

Contributions and letters should be sent to Gary Davies by e-mail at LaticsGary@ntlworld.comor at Boundary Bullet-zine,41 Verney Road,Royton,Oldham,United Kingdom.OL2 6AZ07786 928689Or in the Setons Chaddy end Row R Seats 67 & 68Boundary Bullet-zine Archive can be found at http://www.oocities.org/laticsgary.geo.Boundary Bullet-zine Message Board can be found at http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=939&p=16&forumid=5973The views expressed on this e-zine are not the views of Oldham Athletic F.C. nor necessarily the views of the Editor.This e-zine is a unofficial publication NOT sanctioned by Oldham Athletic Football Club.The editor will not publish any letters containing bad language.This e-zine is written using Microsoft Outlook Express and is best viewed with the HTML (rich) text option enabled.