The Rovers and Oldham Athletic meet this afternoon for the fifth time this season in all competitions but only for the second time in the League. At this stage of the season points are all important for both teams. After successive defeats the Rovers badly need a win to keep in touch with Carlisle United in the second automatic promotion place and three points for Oldham would keep them in with a chance of a play-off place. The Rovers made changes, with Steve Roberts coming in for James O'Connor and Mark McCammon replacing Stuart Elliott, on international duty with Northern Ireland. Steve Roberts, Brian Stock and Oldham's Neal Eardley, who have all been selected for the Wales squad on Wednesday have all received dispensation to play today and report for international duty tomorrow. The Rovers defended the South Stand end on a sunny but bitterly cold Easter Monday afternoon.
The visitors set the game in motion and a long ball down the middle was kneed back by Mills to Sullivan but Constantine got a foot between them and directed the ball goalwards but Lockwood got back to clear off the line. The Rovers then set up their own attack and forced a trio of corners, the second of which brought a goalbound header from Mills that was deflected by a defender for the third corner. On 7 minutes, Taylor for Oldham took the ball off the toes of a team-mate to shoot over the bar from 25 yards. Even play developed then on the quarter hour a through pass for Lomax gave him the chance to run clear of Lockwood and get in a shot from 15 yards that Sullivan saved comfortably. Three minutes later, Heffernan, in the centre circle, spread the ball out to Coppinger on the right, with Heffernan being in the penalty area to receive the cross but his header went wide of the far post. Midfield play then ensued before the Rovers won a corner but nothing came of it. Then a sweet move after 29 minutes initiated by Stock to Gareth Roberts to Stock and through to Heffernan for a shot from just inside the penalty that was just wide. Each side swopped corners before a Rovers attack gave Coppinger a chance of a shot that O'Donnell, at the foot of a post, pushed out for a corner, which McCammon, at the far post, headed wide. Minutes later, Heffernan received from Green and hit a curler from 25 yards that O'Donnell, diving to his left, held well. In the 37th minute came the breakthrough for the Rovers. Following a free kick, the ball bobbled about in the Oldham penalty box before McCammon headed down for HEFFERNAN to rifle into the roof of the net from 15 yards. The Rovers, having got their nose in front, were now having the better of the play in the rundown to the break, which came with the Rovers going in for their half-time cuppa leading by the single goal.
The Rovers started the second half in good fettle and on the attack. In the 49th minute they could have increased their lead when Coppinger in to the near post from the left byline but McCammon's header went across the face of goal and just past the far post. However, in the 52nd minute, a free kick was awarded to Oldham on their right halfway into the Rovers half. The ball was headed out of the Rovers defence but only to JARRETT on the angle of the penalty area. He hit a low shot through the crowded area and past an unsighted Sullivan for an equalising goal to the Latics. Back came the Rovers and four minutes later a corner from their right was headed for the top corner before Eardley got his head in the way whilst stood on the goalline. The resulting corner was swung over to the far side where Green passed inside for Wellens to shoot into the side netting. Minutes later, in another Rovers attack down their left they had a good shout for a penalty when a cross to the middle appeared to be handled by an Oldham defender but the referee said no. Then a good move down the Rovers right led to a corner, which Green headed over. The Rovers were having the most of the play but still couldn't find a way through for a goal. On 77 minutes, a cross from the Oldham right was punched out by Sullivan to Livermore, who shot well wide from the edge of the Rovers penalty area. Straight down to the other end with a good move down the Rovers right culminating in Coppinger crossing to the far post where Price headed wide. Sullivan then caught a cross one handed from the Oldham right, with an Oldham player waiting to head the ball in. After 83 minutes, Eardley headed a ball back to his keeper but got too much air on it and not a lot of distance. Hayter nipped in and headed over the keeper towards an empty net with the crowd cheering the goal but it hit the far post and came back into play to be cleared. A corner from the Rovers left bounced off Green's legs at the far post with O'Donnell gratefully collecting the ball. Into added-on time and the snow began to fall as O'Donnell gave a goal kick to Price but he was closed down quickly and lost the ball. It was recovered by Taylor who fed Green on the left but his shot from a narrow angle went across the face of goal, missed the far post by inches before going out for a goal kick. The final whistle went as the pitch turned white with snow and with Carlisle garnering three points the race for second spot turned in favour of the Cumbrians.
Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; Paul Green, Matt Mills, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Mark McCammon, Paul Heffernan.
Subs used - Jason Price for McCammon 60mins; James Hayter for Heffernan 79mins; Gareth Taylor for Coppinger 86 mins;
Subs not used - Lewis Guy, Sean McDaid,
Cautions - Mills
Oldham Athletic - Richard O'Donnell; Neal Eardley, Reuben Hazell, Stefan Stam, Kelvin Lomax; Matt Wolfenden, Mark Allott, David Livermore, Deane Smalley; Chris Taylor, Leon Constantine
Subs used - Jason Jarrett for Wolfenden 46 mins;
Cautions - Jarrett,
Subs not used - Ashley Kelly, Paul Black, Josh Ollerenshaw
