WORKINGTON Town hearts were broken by Matty Ashurst, who scored a 75th-minute winner to break Town hearts as the hosts came back from a 22-0 deficit to lead 24-22 before the former Super League star scored a heartbreaking hat-trick try.
Workington Town welcomed Oldham to the Fibrus Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a game that simply needed a response from Jonty Gorley’s side.
The end of May and the beginning of June have seen Town walloped twice in the space of three weeks.
First came a good half an hour at Dewsbury, where Town led 6-0 before shipping 30 points in the next 60 minutes to go down 32-6 in West Yorkshire.
June opened with the prospect of a Cumbrian derby at home to Barrow Raiders, a chance to right the wrongs, alas a 56-12 loss and a further bleak look as Town would welcome Oldham, who earlier in the season put 70 past their visitors that day, Rio Corkill the solitary points scorer that day (74-4).
Town have brought in young, talented back Logan Blacker from Huddersfield on a week-by-week basis, and he was undeniably a shining light last weekend, scoring with Jack Stephenson in the loss to Barrow Raiders.
The opening points came from Oldham in 4 minutes despite Town's best efforts to hold them out. Matty Ashurst scored.
Oldham's tally was extended when Jack Walker went over as he looked to be in touch, 0-12.
The Oldham team were again going back to back with Smith scoring as they finished with another quick from Ashurst for 0-22, the kick missing to give Town another uphill battle.
Town got on the scoreboard through a neat set play to see Corkill going over the kick from Blacker going through the posts.
The game then ebbed and flowed with Town defending well to take the half-time score in at 6-22.
The second half started in superb fashion when Rio Corkill scored a second try with a superb finish, blacker kicking for 22-10 as an Oldham man was sent to the bin.
Town were on the defensive when Oldham looked to attack before Lawther plucked the ball from the Oldham attack, raced the length to offload the ball to Braden Leigh to score for 18-22.
Town were in again to take a stunning lead from 0-22 down as Doran broke to feed in Tyce Walmsley to go over next to the posts. Blacker is going 4/4 to take Town out to a 24-22 lead on 56 minutes.
Oldham broke the Town hearts when Oldham retook the lead with minutes remaining as Ashurts scored outwide for his hat-trick, Smith nailing the kick for 24-28.
Town played some superb passes in the last five minutes and battered the line, but credit to the visitors, they held out for a nail-biting win as the 1007 in attendance were all on their feet to applaud Gorley’s side's efforts, who were beaten by 70 points in the last outing between the sides.
