Boundary Park, home of Oldham Athletic based in Greater Manchester and play their trade in League 2! Nicknamed the “Latics” as it’s in the name ‘Athletic’. This club was once a part of the Premier League during it’s first ever season back in 1992 but today finds itself in the fourth tier of English football… Will they ever reach the heights of once before? For the first time in 17 months, I am back watching the Football League!!! Excited doesn’t cut it! But I can finally start ticking off teams in the 92 once again!!! First game of the season and Newport County are the visitors here today.
Train to Manchester Piccadilly and then a bus to Royton which goes through Oldham and here we are! My 300th game ever today! Let’s hope it’s a good one!
£18 to get into this League 2 tie! In a funny way, I’ve missed paying those prices… It’s an exciting day for everyone here and of other Football League clubs as some haven’t seen their club for months and months. The Oldham players go back to the dressing room after their warm up and the atmosphere starts to build here! “HELLO! HELLO! We are the Oldham boys!!” and “And I just can’t seem to get enough of Super Oldham!” I’ve missed this so much!!!
Kick Off! Oldham straight out of the blocks and come forward, it’s played out to the right, played to Jamie Bowden in the box, Newport get there and clear for a corner, in it comes… Newport clear. “We all play in Blue and Tangerine! Blue and Tangerine! Blue and Tangerine!” The Oldham fans keep on singing!! “If you hate Man United clap your hands! CLAP CLAP!” A big clap from me there!!!
It is a poor game sadly with both teams struggling in the final third. 13th minute and Newport win a free kick, it’s a square off between Carl Piergianni and Newport’s Cameron Norman! Norman trying to get the ball off Piergianni… He’s shoved Norman to the ground… What’s the Referee’s decision here? Yellow Card for Piergianni and a Yellow Card for Norman, the Oldham fans love that one! Simulation I’m guessing…
“EVERYBODY F*****G BOUNCE! ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ!!” The Oldham faithful still going strong and why not!!!? Fantastic support so far!
Still a poor game here with little action… The atmosphere by the Oldham faithful is starting to drown out sadly due to the lack of action in the game… It could be 0-0 the way it’s going… 26 minutes on the clock and Oldham have a throw in on the left, it’s thrown in towards Ousseynou Cisse, he chests it and goes for the half volley 30 yards out… Wide.
31st minute and Newport come forward, played through to the left wing, low cross is played in… Piergianni clears for Oldham, throw in for Newport, thrown to Ryan Haynes, he plays it back to Cameron Norman, he lofts it forward into the box, Mickey Demetriou comes running in with the header… It’s wide.
38th minute and Oldham have the ball on the left, a long ball is played into the box… It misses everyone and goes to the right hand side, Oldham still have it, it’s crossed back in, Piergianni with the header… Just wide! Best chance so far! It would be the closest to scoring and at half time the score remained 0-0.
Second half, “Oh when the Blues go marching in! Oh when the Blues go marching in!” Let’s hope it can spur the Oldham players on!! 57th minute now and Newport fans are in fine voice! “Allez Allez Allez!” Their own version of course! They have a free kick on the left in a crossing position, in comes the cross, Mickey Demetriou is there with the header… He finds the net!!! But the flag is up and it won’t count much to the delight of the Oldham fans around me!! “Engerland Engerland Engerland!” Aimed at Newport’s Welsh heritage.
64 minutes on the watch and Oldham win a free kick on the edge of the box in a good position, Oldham fans are loving it after feeling hard done by the Referee today! “Blue White Army!!” Echoing around the stands now! Nicky Adams steps up, he crosses, Sam Hart runs in at the back post… He can’t get there and it goes out for a goal kick…
It’s still a poor game here and looking like a 0-0 finish… If I was manager of these teams I know what I would say to them! “LIVEN IT UP WILL YOU!!!!?” 83rd minute now and Oldham have another free kick in a good position, Nicky Adams crosses again, Piergianni with the header… Just over!! So close!!
88 minutes now and Newport come forward down the left wing, it’s crossed in towards Kevin ELLISON!! HE’S DONE IT!!! WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT!!!!? Old man Ellison has still got it! A looping header over the keeper finds the net and surely that wins it for Newport! “Da da dadadada Kevin Ellison!” Newport fans are loving it!
Can Oldham salvage anything from this game? 90th minute and Oldham give the ball away in midfield and Timmy Abraham has a straight run at goal, he gets to the edge of the box and shoots… Last ditch tackle by Oldham! Brilliant defending there!
Into stoppage time now and Oldham come forward down the left, he cuts inside and crosses… It’s straight into the keeper’s grasp… Sums up Oldham’s day sadly for them… Last minute of stoppage time and here come Oldham again down the left, it’s crossed in towards Junior Luamba… Headed away but it’s a clash of heads and the Oldham fans appeal for a Penalty… The Referee blows for full time much to the dismay of the Oldham fans… Didn’t think it was a Penalty myself but it’s game over and 3 points for Newport.
FT: Oldham Athletic 0-1 Newport County
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 7/10 – The Oldham fans behind the goal towards the front of the stand were fantastic today! They had a drum and flags and were very passionate! There were times in the game where they were quiet due to the lack of action and sadly this cost them what could have been a 10/10 atmosphere if they had carried on making some noise…
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a nice ground with plenty of character!
- Expense: 5.5/10 – £18 is ok for League 2 but it was a poor game but the goal at the end has knocked the score up by a half!
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – Great to be back at Football League level at last! Not the best game but at least it wasn’t 0-0!!
26.5/40