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The Unofficial Daily On-line e-zine for 230 Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide Today's Edition for

17th January 2002

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Rivals match reports: JKLatics.com (oldhamathletic.rivals.com) Super display at Boundary Park tonight as Latics blew away the cobwebs and returned to the form they showed over Christmas. A comprehensive victory over an uncharacteristically ordinary Swindon side gave Latics the points and moved us up into 7th place, only a point behind QPR in the final play off position. It was a great team display and a great boost for John Eyre who bagged both the goals following his introduction on 35 minutes after Alan Smart (left) was stretchered off after a clash of heads. Scott McNiven came in for Dean Holden and staked a claim for a repeat on Saturday with a great display in both defence and on the wing. His best game for Latics for a good while. On the other side, the irrepressible Chris Armstrong reinforced his credentials. Expect a Premiership club in for him if he puts in many more displays of this quality. He absolutely peppered the Swindon defence with crosses and balls in to feet, defended flawlessly and kept running for the full 90 minutes. In the centre, Balmer was back to his form of a few weeks ago with a great display, as was David Beharall. Sheridan ran the show from the centre of midfield and all those (me included) asking for him to be put out to grass were eating their words tonight. Ok so he gave his usual 2 or 3 balls away, but he was also instrumental in setting up a number of Latics moves. Dux was his usual hard working self, Paul Murray was probably my man of the match with his best game by far in a Latics shirt but David Reeves was again a little quiet. He got involved, but he was not where he should have been a lot of the time and he missed an absolute sitter midway through the second half. Ditto Alan Smart till he went off injured although both of them were good value, there was a lack of sharpness up front which could have turned the countless chances created by Eyres and Armstrong into more goals. David Eyres was, well David Eyres. Best player at Boundary Park in many a year. Magnificent performance. It's hard to believe he's 38. He could go on for years yet. Step aside Sir Stanley! From 1 to 11, it was a great team effort and for once, the lads were well up for it. More on Saturday please lads. Latics started off as if they meant business as they seized control of the midfield. David reeves was first to draw blood as he shot down the wing following a slide rule pass from Shezz to fire in a dangerous looking cross that the useful looking Griemink was out fast to cut out. Two minutes later it was Latics again as David Eyres fed Chris Armstrong. The ex Shakers lad shot down the wing, turned his man inside out and fired in a lethal cross which somehow eluded the waiting Duxbury and the Latics midfielder was inches from applying the finishing touch. Latics continued to press forward and although the visitors had the odd assault on goal, the were easily dealt with by the Latics back line. On 16 minutes Latics could have gone ahead after some great work in midfield by Paul Murray who sent Chris Armstrong (right) clear down the wing. Armstrong's deep cross found David Eyres handily placed, but Eyresy's looping header just cleared the bar and landed atop the net. Swindon continued to defend well though and denied a number of chances to the Blues but it was 18 minutes into the game before they threatened when Watford loan man Dominic Foley at last sprang the offside trap and got behind the Latics back four to fire in a stinger which Paul Rachubka did well to hold. Back up the other end 3 minutes later, another great run by Armstrong, another skinned full back and another great cross and again Lee Duxbury in the thick of it as he fouled his marker to get to the ball then 2 minutes later same again as the superb Armstrong fired in a near post effort this time which David reeves twin brother Alan had to head behind to concede a corner. Swapping sides, Latics next chance came from the right as Scott McNiven was fed by John Sheridan. His deep Cross found David Reeves in the right place but the bullet header was parried away for a corner by Griemink. More pressure now from the Blues and on 35 minutes, John Sheridan fired in a superb diagonal cross which the fearless Alan Smart got on the end of, but he paid the price as his head collided with a Swindon head and the Latics striker went down and stayed down. The keeper saved but it was the end of Smart's game as he left the field on a stretcher to applause from both sets of fans. Fingers crossed he's OK after treatment by the club doctor. Enter John Eyre and what a match for him. Before we come to that though, Swindon had their best chance of the match as Steve Robinson took a leaf out of the Sheridan book and fed Eric Sabin on the overlap. Sabin fired in a superb low cross which eluded the Latics defence but Danny Invincible could only sky his shot from 8 yards with only Rachubka to beat. Phew! Latics pressed on and on 42 minutes, Chris Armstrong and David Eyres combined again on the left to provide ammunition for David Eyres who steamed in onto Chris's cross but steered his header wide, then one minute later, John Eyre got to the bye-line and fired in a superb low cross which missed everyone, defender and forward alike. Eric Sabin latched onto the clearance just inside the Latics half and he looked to be one on one with Rachubka before the liner raised his flag about 10 minutes later to deny the Swindon midfielder a shot at goal. Not a happy chap young Eric, as you can imagine, but he was offside - just. Latics took the lead three minutes later from, would you believe, a corner. David Eyres deep corner found John Eyre (above) unmarked and the Latics striker fired in a downward header which beat the Swindon keeper. From where we sat in the Lookers paddock, it looked as if it had been cleared off the line but the linesman signalled that the defender was in the net when he headed it clear and the ball had crossed the line. To be fair, there were few complaints from the Swindon lads. 1-0 to Latics and just time for Stuart Balmer to fire in a blockbuster from a cleared corner which skimmed the bar before the ref. blew up. Second half and much the same. Latics dominated, perhaps not as convincingly as the first half, but Swindon's chances were few and far between. However Swindon did start off perhaps the livelier of the two sides and for 5 or 10 minutes, they came back into the game and had Latics under a bit of pressure. There was a heart stopping moment on 52 minutes as a mad scramble in the Latics box threatened to turn into a Swindon goal but no one was able to apply he finishing touch for the visitors as the ball bobbled around. Stuart Balmer finally cleared the danger with a row Z special and we breathed easier. One minute later, Latics were back on top with another Armstrong cross which the keeper reached an inch before Reevesy, then the ex Chesterfield striker made the miss of the match on 59 when he ran through after a deflected clearance fell kindly for him. He was one on one with Griemink with no one else within 20 yards of him. To the keeper's credit he stood up well but Reeves delayed just that bit too long before releasing his shot and the keeper was on him. Reeves dragged the ball round him but by this time, a Swindon boot was on hand before Reevesy (right) could fire in from the narrowest of angles. Full credit to the keeper. Hard luck David - not his night tonight. Latics next chance came on 65 minutes as Stuart Balmer collected a David Eyres lay off and got is foot over the ball to keep it down and fire in a powerful shot. The keeper was at full stretch to turn it round the post to deny the Latics centre back 3 minutes later it was Swindon's turn as Andy Gurney collected a clearance and tried his luck. Decent effort across the keeper from 20 yards which skimmed a post. 4 minutes later Scott McNiven fired over a Beckham style 40 yard cross-field ball which found Paul Murray in the Ryan Giggs position. Murray took the ball forward a couple of paces and let fly a vicious shot which whistled inches wide then on 81 minutes, Latics went further ahead and a peach of a goal it was. Watch it on TV if you get the chance. - not for along time have I seen Latics move forward with pace like that. David Eyres collected the ball on his own 18 yard line and shot down the wing with the pace of an 18 year old sprinter. Best yet, the rest of the Latics midfield and attack went with him - when did we last see that? John Eyre got himself far post and was just arriving unmarked as the Eyres cross reached his head. Bang - bullet header - keeper nowhere game set and match to the Blues. That was more or less it. Swindon, to their credit, didn't crumble and they continued to chase the match. Matt Appleby came on for Shezza with 5 minutes left and on 89 minutes, he looked good as he fed a superb ball forward to Reeves who couldn't believe his luck when his marker slipped and fell in front of him. Reevesy's low cross was turned out for a corner by his twin and from the corner, Julien Baudet almost got his first touch of the match as he steamed in like an express train but Griemink was a split second earlier to the ball to deny the big Frenchman. So that was it. Three points and Wrexham to come on Saturday. Come on lads. same again please.Myonlyswindon (swindontown.rivals.net) Another dismal night for Town as Oldham win 2-0 All the talk before the game was of all out attack and going for the win. Well the fireworks that were promised must have got a little damp, because Town failed to show any sparkle at all. It's now seven away defeats for the season and no away points since October 26th. Relegation is now a threat. Andy Gurney and Bobby Howe came back into the team after serving their suspensions and Willis and Davis were dropped to the bench. Greater Manchester is never a happy place for Town to go (unless it's Bury) and tonight was no exception. Another lack-lustre performance from Andy King's players and another defeat at the hands of an average side. Oldham had conceded 9 goals in their two previous games, but Town never looked like opening them up. This is now becoming a serious problem. The last five away games have seen Town score just one goal and even with Dominic Foley coming into the side we still don't look like finding the net. Andy King says that if he had the money to bring players in then he would make big changes. Unfortunately he is very restricted with who he can acquire and so he says he must try and make the players that he has better. The only plus point from tonight's game was the fact that no further bookings were collected by the Town players. But then the aggression was missing from their game as they muddled along without much enthusiasm and let Oldham dictate. The first half was pretty even with both sides creating a few chances but Griemink was the busier of the two keepers. Town's best chance fell to Invincible on 40 minutes and it looked as though he must score from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy. Somehow he managed to sky the ball over the bar. Just four minutes later and right on the stroke of half-time Oldham took the lead. Substitute Eyre headed goalward and despite an attempt from a Town defender on the line the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line. There was still time for more panic in the Town box before the half-time whistle blew, but thankfully it all ended with Balmer blasting his shot over. Swindon started brightly in the second half and managed a couple of early chances, but nothing that looked like finding the net. Griemink was again the busier of the keepers and had to be alert to tip the ball over from Balmer and then make a save with his feet from Murray. Andy King decided to bring on Alan Young to replace Bobby Howe with 12 minutes to go to see if he could salvage a point for Town. But instead of Town getting a goal, it was Oldham who extended their lead just 2 minutes later. Eyre again was the scorer as Town got caught pushing forward and were punished by Oldham's quick break. Town failed to come close to spoiling Oldham's victory as the match fizzled out, and the few sorry and disappointed souls from Wiltshire (and beyond) who had made the trip were left to wonder why they bothered. It's Peterboro on Saturday and by Saturday evening I would expect us to be 2 points from the relegation slot. But I still hope that something might just happen to change it. But I don't know what.

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 The Latics began the first of three home games in the space of ten days, which would play a big part in deciding their fate come April. John Sheridan and Scott McNiven were brought back into the team for Darren Sheridan and Dean Holden, he had to settle for a place on the bench. The Latics latest signing, Matty Appleby had to settle for a place on the bench. Swindon included Alan Reeves in their side so that meant a battle of the Reeves brothers would take place. Swindon had not won a league game since last year and the Latics knew three points was a must. Scott McNiven was involved early on, swinging in a dangerous cross from the right wing which was hacked clear by the visitors defence. Latics other full back followed suit and sent over a tantalising ball after beating his man, but no one could get on the end of it.

Paul Murray was unlucky to see his header loop over the crossbar after good work on the left from Armstrong. On the other wing, a Duxbury cross just eluded the forwards as the Latics pressed for the opener. Dominic Foley tested Rachubka after twenty minutes, that was his first action of the half. The half was summed up when Duxbury robbed Alan Reeves and picked out Eyres, free at the back post, he slipped and the ball went out for a corner. Sabin then fired into the side netting after twisting and turning on the edge of the Latics box. McNiven supplied another great centre, which David Eyres looked to have headed the Latics in front, but Griemink made a wonderful save to deny Eyres. John Sheridan wasted a good opportunity from a free-kick just outside the box. Allan Smart received a nasty blow to his head after he challenged for a header and didn't move. For the second game running, a Latics player was being stretchered from the field of play. John Eyre replaced Smart who was immediately taken off to hospital.

Danny Invincible was anything but, when he wasted the best chance of the match by blazing over from ten yards out. Reeves wasted a good chance when he misjudged an Eyres cross and headed woefully wide of the post. John Eyre did well to turn and fire a ball across the box, but once no Latics player reacted and the danger was cleared. Then from a left wing corner, Duxbury's diving header was diverted over the line by John Eyre despite the brave attempt on the line of the Swindon defender. The referee needed the linesman's assistance to award the goal but it did cross the line to give Athletic the lead. There were sighs of relief all round as finally the Latics pressure had paid off. Stuart Balmer could have doubled the lead when his effort skimmed the bar after a neatly taken free-kick had caused panic in the visitors defence.
Swindon had a penalty appeal turned down when Armstrong stood his ground to a high ball and Dominic Foley appeared to fall over him. Latics escaped seconds later when they desperately cleared their lines as Swindon threatened. John Eyre turned his man neatly on the edge of the box but his shot never troubled Griemink. Reeves missed a glorious chance on the hour when a tackle rebounded kindly into his path, he ran on goal but delayed his shot allowing Griemink to save his effort and Heywood blocked his second shot. From an Eyres cross, Eyre headed it back for Balmer whose shot looked goalbound but for a touch from Griemink, who put it out for a corner. Andy Gurney had a decent chance to level the scores when he played a neat pass and move with Invincible and shot wide of Rachubka's post. Rachubka then stopped the visitors equalising, with good positioning on his line after a free kick was meet by a group of players.

Eyres headed Murray through on goal but Griemink saved well with his knees after Murray had run on to the ball and shot from Eyres' header. Eyres seemed to be bundled to the floor when Duke clattered in to him as he chased a through ball a few yards outside the box. From Rachubka's superb throw, David Eyres burst down the left flank, with Armstrong, Reeves and Eyre in the box, he picked out Eyre who headed into the back of the net to seal the points for the Latics. Eyres' cross was pinpoint but Rachubka's throw was the key. Matty Appleby was then given his Latics debut for John Sheridan. Reeves did well to win a corner after he had given the full back the slip. Baudet replaced Duxbury in the final minutes. It was not a great performance from the Latics but they returned to winning ways, which was needed after the last week. If they can repeat this success on Saturday then things might start looking rosy again.

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.The 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.