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Oldham Roughyeds 34 Barrow Raiders 22

Gavin Browne
11/ 8/2008

OLDHAM'S 18th consecutive home victory kept them in the hunt for automatic promotion from Co-operative National League Two.

However, their failure to beat Barrow by more than 12 points means the Cumbrians require two wins from their final three league games to take second spot - assuming the Roughyeds take care of Swinton and Workington in their last two matches.

An absorbing game at Boundary Park ended with Oldham continuing their best run of home form since 1990 thanks to three tries in each half.

Credit must also go to Barrow with James Nixon proving a deadly finisher on the left-hand side, while Darren Holt's astute kicking meant a busy afternoon for the Oldham defence.

It was Holt and Nixon who combined for the game’s opening try on three minutes, the former kicking a 40/20 to give Barrow the attacking scrum and then kicking through for Nixon to touch down.

With Oldham badly hit by injuries, it was to their credit that they responded within three minutes, Jason Boults taking Simeon Hoyle's pass to score.

Better was to come though as a scrum to Oldham 15 metres from their own saw the ball reach Paul O'Connor, the full-back breaking the defensive line and racing 85 metres to score under the posts.

James Coyle converted both tries to put Oldham 12-4 ahead, only for another Holt kick to cause confusion in the Oldham defence and gift Nixon his second try of the afternoon.

Holt converted to bring Barrow within two points, but Oldham's advantage was restored to six by the break when O'Connor crashed over to make it 16-10.

The second half began with Oldham on the defensive, not helped by kicking out on the full and giving Barrow possession on halfway.

They withstood four minutes of pressure though, capitalising when Danny Halliwell plucked Neil Roden's crossfield kick out of the sky for try number four, Coyle with the conversion.

Both sides then traded converted scores, on-loan Michael Brown crossing for Oldham and Andrew Ellis doing likewise as the Roughyeds led 28-16 with nine minutes left.

Knowing that a 13-point victory would put them second on the table, Oldham unsuccessfully attempted a drop goal and saw their lead cut to six points as Jamie Butler touched down.

Nevertheless, it was Oldham who had the final say when Lucas Onyango went over for a converted try in the final minute.