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Oldham send Dale kids crashing out

21/11/2003

Lancs FA Youth Cup
Rochdale 2
Oldham Ath 4

DALE'S youth team crashed out of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle on a rain-drenched evening at Spotland.

Oldham dominated for the majority of the first-half and goals from Barlow and Forde looked like giving the visitors a comfortable half-time lead only for Dale's Matt Williams to capitalize on a goalkeeping error deep in first-half stoppage time.

Rochdale made a half-time change, with Shelmerdine replaced by Seamus Brown.

The change seemed to spark Dale into life as just six minutes after the restart Williams got his and Dale's second to level things up.

As the rain continued to pour down the game became more open. But a great strike on the volley from Danny Forde that gave Dale keeper Mann no chance and Latics the lead.

The tie was settled on 73 minutes when Chris Hall reacted to a quickly-taken free-kick to head home Oldham's fourth. The score line could have been much more but for some brave defending and good goalkeeping from Mann, including a fine save low down to his right.

In front of a decent support of 236, Oldham deserved their win in what was an entertaining game in some very tricky conditions.

ROCHDALE: Mann, Murray, Doherty (O'Connor, 62), G. Brown (Kay, 62), Keigher, Gibbins, Hartley, Allen, Williams, Shelmerdine (S Brown, 46) Crowther.

OLDHAM: Treacy, Armstrong, Lomax (Eardley, 83), Forde, Lever (Hampson, 78), Jacobs, J Taylor, C Taylor, Hall, Barlow (Wolfenden, 66), Walker.