TheBunnyBellEnd
Member
- Joined
- 26 Sep 2008
- Messages
- 337
- Player
- Jimmy Harvey
Firstly can I say how much I hate Oldham, I have never been there when it is either warm or not wet and that car park they constructed out of mud is also a real pet peeve of mine.
Anyway to the game itself. Got to a 3 sided Boundary Park about 7ish and was surprised by the number of Rovers fans knocking about and by the distinct lack of Oldham supporters, went for a brief scout round and after deciding that yes there is absolutely nothing in Oldham decided to make my way to the away entrance. On the way we passed the Tranmere coach with noone left on it except our beloved Lorraine Rogers enjoying a brew.
Got to the away end and had to get scanned by some sort of machine (could have been a scanner:-k) am not sure for what purpose and why the stewards seemed to be doing it randomly but there you go. Paid £20 and made my way in. Already the SWA was in full voice despite a lot of people milling around the forecourt behind the stand. Paid a ridiculous price for a beer and stood watching the crowds steadily build. Around 7:30 I overheard someone say that the away end was nearly full despite there being a lot of people both outside the ground still and many still queing to get a burger.
We decided to make our way into the stand and upon entering was genuinely surprised by the following we had brought. So much so we had to sit on the very front row of the stand. It was at this point that people began pointing out to the stewards that there was nowhere to sit with more supporters making their way in. We had been allocated only one full block of seats with the block closest to the home supporters taped off. By kick off time nobody was able to sit down as people without seats had simply come and stood infront of us still the stewards did nothing to make more seating available, even our plod and the local plod looked bemused.
Still the game started and both sets of fans began hurling as much abuse at each other as was humanly possible, on the pitch it was very scrappy with both teams looking really rusty through lack of games and through lack of opportunities to play on grass. Passes went astray for both sides and it deteriorated into a dogged battle in midfield. Very few chances were created for either side, with a handful of long range efforts from both sides the only real highlights. However I was pleased that we had competed and thought with a little more invention we could walk away with all three points.
Second half however didnt deliver and if anything I felt it was going to be a matter of time before Oldham scored. They began playing the ball round quite well and began taking advantage of how narrow we seemed to be playing. Again passes were getting missed and players control began to let them down, much to the growing annoyance of the travelling support. Curran and Gornell began to look very ineffective as Oldham pressed forward. However Oldham could not continue the pressure and the game seemed to be drifting to a 0-0 scoreline. However a neat bit of play on the right hand side saw a cross hit toward Gornell on the corner of the 6 yard box, the SWA all held their breathe then in unison released it in exasperation as Gornell made a complete hash of it. Oldham themselves had an opportunity with the ball bouncing around dangerously in our penalty area, however some strong last ditch tackles managed to get the danger cleared.
With only seconds to go Rovers surged forward seeking that illusive winning goal however the attack petered out with a weak shot straight at the keeper. The chants of "make a sub" from the travelling fans now rose in loudness as a number of players on the pitch began to looked jaded. Proving a point that although they are physically fit many are not match fit and lack sharpness. (This being due to the weather)
As the referee blew his whistle many of the travelling fans vented their frustrations whilst others clapped the players off. Many supporters left feeling a little deflated at the fact Oldham were a poor side that realistically were there for the taking. Les's tactical prowess was again called into question as was his ability to make substitutions at critical times to change the pattern of a game. And the manager himself cut a rather lonely figure on the touchline with his hands stuffed in his pockets, perhaps now he truely understands how bigger task he is faced with and understands the pressure he has placed on himself with a success or resignation promise? Whatever the answer it would be fair to say Les really didnt seem to know what to do last night so ultimately did nothing, and this time it worked for him.
A draw on reflection was a fair result and I would have taken it before the game, but there certainly seem to be cracks appearing, Curran, ITM and Gornell do not look like they are capable of scoring enough goals to win us games, Les seems unsure of how to change things when his opposing managers do and some of the supporters seem to be losing patience with some of the players and with Les himself.
Myself I put last night down to lack of first team football recently and think we did well to get what we did, however this statement is tempered with the simple fact that if we put in a performance like that at MK Dons we will get murdered.
Anyway to the game itself. Got to a 3 sided Boundary Park about 7ish and was surprised by the number of Rovers fans knocking about and by the distinct lack of Oldham supporters, went for a brief scout round and after deciding that yes there is absolutely nothing in Oldham decided to make my way to the away entrance. On the way we passed the Tranmere coach with noone left on it except our beloved Lorraine Rogers enjoying a brew.
Got to the away end and had to get scanned by some sort of machine (could have been a scanner:-k) am not sure for what purpose and why the stewards seemed to be doing it randomly but there you go. Paid £20 and made my way in. Already the SWA was in full voice despite a lot of people milling around the forecourt behind the stand. Paid a ridiculous price for a beer and stood watching the crowds steadily build. Around 7:30 I overheard someone say that the away end was nearly full despite there being a lot of people both outside the ground still and many still queing to get a burger.
We decided to make our way into the stand and upon entering was genuinely surprised by the following we had brought. So much so we had to sit on the very front row of the stand. It was at this point that people began pointing out to the stewards that there was nowhere to sit with more supporters making their way in. We had been allocated only one full block of seats with the block closest to the home supporters taped off. By kick off time nobody was able to sit down as people without seats had simply come and stood infront of us still the stewards did nothing to make more seating available, even our plod and the local plod looked bemused.
Still the game started and both sets of fans began hurling as much abuse at each other as was humanly possible, on the pitch it was very scrappy with both teams looking really rusty through lack of games and through lack of opportunities to play on grass. Passes went astray for both sides and it deteriorated into a dogged battle in midfield. Very few chances were created for either side, with a handful of long range efforts from both sides the only real highlights. However I was pleased that we had competed and thought with a little more invention we could walk away with all three points.
Second half however didnt deliver and if anything I felt it was going to be a matter of time before Oldham scored. They began playing the ball round quite well and began taking advantage of how narrow we seemed to be playing. Again passes were getting missed and players control began to let them down, much to the growing annoyance of the travelling support. Curran and Gornell began to look very ineffective as Oldham pressed forward. However Oldham could not continue the pressure and the game seemed to be drifting to a 0-0 scoreline. However a neat bit of play on the right hand side saw a cross hit toward Gornell on the corner of the 6 yard box, the SWA all held their breathe then in unison released it in exasperation as Gornell made a complete hash of it. Oldham themselves had an opportunity with the ball bouncing around dangerously in our penalty area, however some strong last ditch tackles managed to get the danger cleared.
With only seconds to go Rovers surged forward seeking that illusive winning goal however the attack petered out with a weak shot straight at the keeper. The chants of "make a sub" from the travelling fans now rose in loudness as a number of players on the pitch began to looked jaded. Proving a point that although they are physically fit many are not match fit and lack sharpness. (This being due to the weather)
As the referee blew his whistle many of the travelling fans vented their frustrations whilst others clapped the players off. Many supporters left feeling a little deflated at the fact Oldham were a poor side that realistically were there for the taking. Les's tactical prowess was again called into question as was his ability to make substitutions at critical times to change the pattern of a game. And the manager himself cut a rather lonely figure on the touchline with his hands stuffed in his pockets, perhaps now he truely understands how bigger task he is faced with and understands the pressure he has placed on himself with a success or resignation promise? Whatever the answer it would be fair to say Les really didnt seem to know what to do last night so ultimately did nothing, and this time it worked for him.
A draw on reflection was a fair result and I would have taken it before the game, but there certainly seem to be cracks appearing, Curran, ITM and Gornell do not look like they are capable of scoring enough goals to win us games, Les seems unsure of how to change things when his opposing managers do and some of the supporters seem to be losing patience with some of the players and with Les himself.
Myself I put last night down to lack of first team football recently and think we did well to get what we did, however this statement is tempered with the simple fact that if we put in a performance like that at MK Dons we will get murdered.
