Wounded Lions miss out on a big chance

Arriva Trains Cup West Group.

FOR the second time in less than a week, the Lions gave National League One opponents more than a match for most of the game, only to fade away badly in the closing stages.

However, at Boundary Park there was major cause for concern, as they were playing against 12 men for the last 30 minutes, Oldham having had Lee Marsh sent off for violent play.

Lions went into the match with just 19 fit players to choose from, including on loan signing Mick Coates from Leigh Centurions.

It was the hosts who struck first when player-coach Steve Molloy sent Neil Roden scampering over the Lions' line after just three minutes.

Both teams then had chances, but the wet weather ensured that good ball handling was at a premium, with Oldham's Keith Brennan and Swinton's Peter Cannon both knocking on in try scoring positions.

The second Oldham try came on 16 minutes and it was ex-Lion Ian Watson who was the provider.

His kick to the Lions' line was fumbled by stand in full-back Jason Roach and from the goal line drop out, Watson sent Gareth Barber over in the corner.

Just after the midway point of the first half the Lions reduced the deficit to 8 - 6 when a deft pass from Tau Liku got Warren Ayres over under the posts and Chris Maye converted.

Paul Ashton and Ayres were then involved in a good move on the right wing, but Ayres pass was intercepted by Jon Goddard, who promptly knocked on.

The Lions then had a penalty kick at goal after Oldham were pulled up for holding down in a tackle, but Maye failed to take advantage with his attempt.

On 32 minutes Lions reduced the arrears to just one point when Ashton landed a drop goal on the sixth tackle.

Goal kicking appeared to be a forgotten art in this game as Oldham's Gareth Barber missed with his third goal attempt after Lions gave away a penalty for holding down.

Then Maye returned the favour when he hit the upright from straight in front after the hosts were caught offside.

As the second half started with Oldham leading 8-7 it soon became clear that coach Molloy's half-time team talk must have stripped the paint off the home dressing room walls.

They took a short kick off, managed to gain possession and just 49 seconds from the re-start, Nick Johnson was touching down in the corner.

Substitute Pat Rich was handed the goal kicking duties instead, but he also missed the target.

He was successful five minutes later though when he made it 14-7 after the Lions were penalised for ball stealing.

Then on 51 minutes came the Marsh sending off after he appeared to use his knees and kick out at Ashton in a tackle.

Ashton himself kicked the resulting penalty goal to bring the score up to 14 - 9.

Any thoughts Lions had of having an easier time of it against 12-man Oldham soon disappeared when Watson was again the architect of another Oldham try.

His kick to the Lions' line was chased by both full-backs, Roach and Gavin Dodd.

Roach tackled the Oldham man off the ball, but Rich was following up to touch it down over the Lions' line. Rich also converted his own try for a 20-9 Oldham lead.

On 63 minutes Coates and Ian Hodson did the spadework for Lions' second try, scored by skipper Cannon and converted by Ashton, to bring the Lions back within five points at 20-15.

But then in an alarming case of deja-vu from last Tuesday's game against Whitehaven, the Lions collapsed. Jake Johnstone lost the ball in front of his own posts, allowing Roden to scoop it up and score.

On 71 minutes Will Cowell took advantage of Hugh Thorpe's mistake as he failed to connect to kick the ball dead, Cowell pouncing for an un- converted try in the corner.

Three minutes later Watson broke up the middle of the field to send Martin Elswood under the posts, then on 77 minutes, Cowell got his second, to leave the Lions looking distinctly embarrassed.

Three more Rich conversion goals bringing up the final score.

Lions coach Paul Kidd said: "It was a great effort as we only had 19 fit players to choose from.

"We showed up well against a higher division side and hopefully, after getting all the games against National League 1 sides out of the way, we will have some positives to take into next weekends games, when we should have some of our injured players back and have a bigger squad to choose from".

It is to be hoped he is right as without a good start to the National League Two season, Lions' campaign could be left looking distinctively flat.

LIONS: Roach, Johnstone, Bolton, Maye, Thorpe, Ayres, Ashton, Whittaker, Cannon, Wingfield, Cushion, Smith, Hodson. Subs: Coates, Kay, Pembroke, Liku.