LATICS AT A CRUISE BUT IT’S NO FON FOR GLOVERS
SUPERSUB Mike Fondop’s double helped Oldham Athletic secure a fourth win in a row without conceding to heap more misery on already-relegated Yeovil Town.
Fondop’s double added to Devarn Green’s early opener and capped a dominant performance from the Latics, who climbed into the top ten of the National League for the first time this season.
This typical end-of-season affair had everything of two sides with nothing to play for but Oldham showed why they have been so solid in recent weeks with David Unsworth’s men extremely well drilled throughout.
It only took nine minutes for the visitors to take the lead with a simple goal. Mark Kitching’s simple cross found the feet of Green whose simplest of finishes found the back of the net.
Yeovil rarely threatened throughout, with a free-kick from just outside the box their closest route to goal, but Charlie Cooper’s set-piece sailed over the bar.
Alex Reid almost doubled Oldham’s lead with a header from a corner but Josh Staunton’s crucial block left the score just 1-0 at the break.
The second half started much as the first ended with Oldham on the front foot.
Yeovil huffed and puffed with Malachi Linton getting into a good position in the box but that was it in terms of attacking intent from the Glovers.
It took until 15 minutes from time for the visitors to take advantage when the two substitutes combined on 74 minytes when Bassala Sambou’s neat pass after he burst forward found Fondop who only had to slide the ball home.
Then, two minutes from the end, Fondop’s superb free-kick found the top corner from just outside the penalty area, capping off a fine cameo performance.
Jordan Young went close to a consolation for Yeovil, but Oldham keeper Magnus Norman claimed well down to his right.
It was the same old problems for Yeovil boss Mark Cooper, who told The NLP: “We could have been there all night and not scored. I played lots of forwards, but it is where we have been found out.
“The first goal is an experienced player not defending properly and it is a by-product of where we are and you make mistakes. The end of the last six weeks have been horrendous and it has not been acceptable as a club. We need to regroup and re-recruit and come back stronger next season.
“Everyone is frustrated and angry. They had real physical players and that was the difference. We don’t have an out and out striker that we can get the ball to.
“The supporters have been through a lot this year and things looked promising and I feel sorry for them and everyone connected with the club.”
BROMLEY sealed their place in the National League play-offs with a comprehensive and impressive win against Chesterfield, their potential opponents.
A stunning first-half effort from Billy Bingham gave Bromley the lead and Ash Palmer’s own goal on the hour mark made sure it was a day to remember for the Ravens.
The victory made it eight games unbeaten as Andy Woodman hailed his squad’s never-say-die spirit.
“I’ve never lost faith in this squad or the belief that we would get in the playoffs and I am so happy the lads have delivered on that,” Woodman told The NLP.
“We knew what we needed to do to get into the playoffs and myself and my backroom staff have worked tirelessly to achieve that. I hope the team now get the plaudits but this is only the play-offs. We’ve been here before, I want to go one step further.”
The Spireites should have taken the lead inside ten minutes. Jamie Grimes header back across goal saw an unmarked Andrew Dallas head over the bar with only Reice Charles-Cook to beat.
Bromley slowly worked their way into the game and served notice of their intentions when Deji Elerewe headed Bingham’s corner against the crossbar.
But it was Bingham who was to break the deadlock with his first goal of the season – a sweet 25-yard half volley deflecting in off the post, beating keeper Ross Fitzsimons all ends up.
Ryan Colclough could
Sowunmi 8
Fisher 8
Colclough 6
Bingham 8 Whitely 7
Cheek 7
Banks 6
Maguire 6 have equalised five minutes for Chesterffield before halftime but his snapshot was brilliantly tipped around the post by Charles-Cook.
But the Spireites were lucky not to be two down at the break when Bromley were awarded a penalty.
Jeff King’s short corner sold everyone short and Corey Whitely seized on the loose ball to run the full length of the pitch. His run was impeded by Ollie Banks in the penalty area but Michael Cheek smashed the resultant spot-kick against the crossbar.
Bromley did not rue that penalty miss, however, as Ash Palmer’s own goal from Kellen Fisher’s cross on the hour gave the Ravens further breathing space and it was a
Stirk
Charles-Cook 8
Reynolds 8
Dennis 7
McCallum 5
Dallas 6
Grimes 7
Mandeville 6
Oldaker 6
Palmer 6
Fitzsimons 6
Elerewe 8
Topalloj 8
King 6 position of control that they never looked like relinquishing.
The Spireites could have guaranteed themselves a home tie in the play-off semi-finals if results had gone their way, and disappointed boss Paul Cook said: “We had a lot of poor performances in key areas of the pitch today. My big thing has always been trust but unfortunately with this group of lads I struggle to trust them in games at the minute and that is after a long season.
“When we start doing some of the stuff we do it takes my breath away I have got to be honest.”
Jason Richardson