MIKE Ford’s intention when he took over as interim coach was to win, initially, each of the four remaining games of the regular season against Cornwall and Rochdale away and Workington and Midlands Hurricanes at home.
So far, he’s won two out of two – 56-4 v Cornwall in Penryn and 24-20 in the derby at Rochdale only three days ago.
Tonight at Boundary Park (7.30pm) they go again against a Workington side, well coached by ex-Oldham half-back Anthony Murray, which can still finish fourth if they win tonight and Sunday’s results go their way, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
On the other hand, Oldham can finish third if Ford makes it three out of three tonight and four out of four against Midlands Hurricanes on Sunday so long as Doncaster don’t beat Dewsbury. The problem is everything favours the Dons — home advantage, the departure to Halifax of coach Liam Finn and, most of all, the fact that the Rams are already home and dry as champions and winners of automatic promotion.
While Doncaster will be fighting for play-off position, Dewsbury will have little to play for other than pride.
Nevertheless, Roughyeds need to win tonight to keep their third-place hopes alive at least until Sunday, to say nothing of momentum on and off the field and the need to make this a happy return to Boundary Park.
There’s then the question of the big announcement in the Broadway Suite before the game even starts. What can that be, one wonders. It all makes for a fascinating evening at Boundary Park.
It’s Oldham’s first home game, of course, since July 9 when they beat North Wales Crusaders, seven weeks ago. That’s a long time between drinks. Three away games on the bounce, at Hunslet, Cornwall and Rochdale has hardly helped, but Roughyeds have a wonderful chance of bridging the gap tonight and sending their fans home happy and genuinely excited about the future.
