Last updated 01:00, Monday, 24 September 2007

Oldham 48 Workington Town 0

WORKINGTON Town’s National League Two season came to an abrupt end as they put in a disappointing display at Oldham Roughyeds yesterday.

Oldham started as they meant to go on with a try in the fourth minute and, although the hosts went in only 18-0 up at the break, the floodgates opened in the second half.

It was a frustrating end to the reign of caretaker coaches Les Ashe and Craig Barker who have done wonders this season since taking over from Kiwi coach Ged Stokes just before Easter.

Adam Hughes ran on to a Neil Rhoden grubber to opening the scoring for Oldham but one of Town’s few promising attacks in the early stages ended with another Oldham try in the 10th minute.

Drives from Martyn Wilson, Neil Frazer, Taani Lavulavu and Jamie Beaumont saw Town 15 metres from the home line but a spilled ball in the three-quarters saw Lucas Onyango hack the ball upfield. Football style, the Oldham winger kicked the ball two more times before collecting five metres out and diving over. Gareth Langley added the two and Oldham had a 10-0 advantage.

With drizzle causing a lot of handling errors, Town’s Dexter Miller spilled the ball before Oldham’s Ian Sinfield did similar in a good attacking position.

But Miller atoned for his error with a great try-saving tackle on Geno Costin in the 28th minute. However, a James Coyle kick towards the try line resulted in the third try of the game. Town collected the ball but were driven back across their own line, the ball was lost and Ian Hodson got the touch for 14-0.

With little going for Town, solid Oldham defence and a few ideas in attack, it was no surprise when they lengthened their lead five minutes from half time.

Under no pressure, full-back Wilson spilled a Coyle bomb in front of his own posts and from the resulting scrum Oldham spun the ball right for Langley to go in for the first of his three tries.

At 18-0 down, a comeback was not out of the question. But half-time substitute Franco Kmet’s yellow card in the 43rd minute ended any hopes after he was harshly sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Rhoden.

Oldham scrum-half Coyle waltzed in for two tries in three minutes as gaps opened in the Town defence, Hughes goaling one for 28-0.

By now it was damage limitation as a tired-looking Town tried to hold up an Oldham onslaught. But centre Hughes slid over in the 58th minute for 32-0.

When another try looked certain for the hosts, Stephen Dawes intercepted on his own try line and raced away, only to be hauled in to touch by Coyle just inside the Oldham half.

And three tries in the final 16 minutes of the game sealed Town’s fate.

Langley intercepted a Martin Keavney pass on halfway to sprint in, Costin cut through the Town defence like butter and then Langley completed his hat-trick a minute before time.

Hughes converted the Langley’s second to complete the scoreline and a miserable afternoon for Town.

Oldham: Langley, Ford, Littler, Hughes, Onyango, Rhoden, Coyle, Tonks, Hoyle, Mervill, Sinfield, Roberts, Costin. Subs: Wilkinson, Hodson, Tamghart, Brooks.

Town: Wilson, Blair, Frazer, Mossop, Dawes, Forber, Keavney, Sidlow, King, Lavulavu, Miller, Beaumont, R Lunt. Subs: Gorman, Kmet, Tunstall, Ormesher

Attendance: 1,128