Oldham Athletic 1 Swansea City 0

Last updated : 14 August 2006 By Andy Steel

After losing 1-0 to promotion hopefuls, Tranmere (a) and Port Vale (h), John Sheridan knew that Oldham had to turn things around. Swansea were also disappointed with their start to the season with a 2-1 loss to new boys and relegation favorites, Cheltenham (h) and a 2-2 draw away to Scunthorpe. Those results left both teams in the bottom half of the table. Swansea touted with every chance of reaching the play offs and Oldham as possible dark horses for the play offs.

Last season both teams canceled each other out with a 0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium (Swansea's home ground) and a 1-1 draw at Boundary Park (Oldham's home ground). Oldham finishing in 10th with 65 points and Swansea finished in 6th with 71 points losing in the play off final to Barnsley preventing them from 2 successive promotions.

The teams looked like this:

Oldham gave a debut to 20 year old Chris Howarth (13) in goal for the injured Pogliacomi and Simon Charlton (2) at left back in a 4-4-2 system.

Team starting line up: 13 Howarth (GK), 23 Swailes, 5 Haining, 6 Stam, 2 Charlton, 22 Liddell, 15 Mcdonald, 7 Wellens, 11 Edwards, 12 C.Hall, 14 Warne. Subs: 25 Smith (GK), 18 Taylor, 4 Rocastle, 10 Wood, 24 Molongo. Manager John Sheridan

Swansea: Leon Brittain (7) and Kirsten O'Leary (4) return to the starting line up after missing the 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe in a 4-3-3 system.

Team Starting Line up: 1 Gueret, 3 Austin, 6 Ireikpan, 15 Williams, 2 Amankwaah, 7 Britton, 8 Pratley, 4 O'Leary, 24 Knight, 10 Trundle, 11 Fallon. Subs: 21 Oakes (GK), Watt, 28 Butler, 14 Mcleod, 9 Akinfenwa. Manager Kenny Jackett.

The first half was very close with Lee Trundle of Swansea hitting the crossbar after a poor punch by Chris Howarth. Oldham hit the post after what looked like a deflection from a Swansea defender. It was a very entertaining first half with some very good football being played. 0-0 was the score after the first half.

The second half started with a sub, Chris Hall off Maheta Molango on. Again the second half started well with scares for both teams Lee Trundle carrying from where he left off and testing the defence but Stam, Haining, Swailes and Charlton were more than enough to deal with him. Oldham looked the better team and all there pressure finally paid off when Warne laid off to Chalton who hit first time in the box. The keeper beaten by the swerving cross meant it was perfectly on a plate for Maheta Molango to head it into the roof of the net.

The game wasn't over yet when Lee Trundle when down in the box the referee Mr. G. Laws pointed to the spot. Up stepped Lee Trundle but Chris Howarth saved the badly stuck penalty which went just to left of him, becoming an instant hero in the process and marking a good debut. The match finished 1-0 and Oldham recorded their first win and goal of the season leaving them in 15th and Swansea still to get a win in 19th.

Man of the Match Stefan Stam was able to handle the threat of Lee Trundle.
Worst Player on the pitch Maheta Molongo despite getting the goal Molongo was unable to control passes, read the game well or use his height constructively.