Match Report: Oldham 20-18 Southport

Oldham welcomed third placed Southport to Manor Park for their first home game of 2025.

Having been soundly beaten away in the early season, Oldham were looking to build on the better team performances that had been shown in their last game against Bolton.

An early penalty gave Southport a 3-0 lead which was then cancelled out when Alex Jobson equalised with an Oldham penalty to return the game to even standings.

Oldham were controlling their own ball but just seemed to force it when it was not required. The first half whilst being a little nip and tuck was very patchy from both teams with them making mistakes to turn the ball over.

Oldham found joy in the forwards attacking through and at the side of the Southport ruck which led to Oldham’s first try. Carries from the evergreen Jack Taylor who had moved from back row to hooker, fed Rhys Jones, he then fed Louis Fitton who then went in, behind the Southport defence on the 22 metre line, beating three defenders to score. With Alex Jobson converting the extras the score was 10-3 in Oldham’s favour.

Oldham’s defence was holding firm and the willingness to make first up tackles seemed to be making the difference, especially with Oldham on the wrong end of the official’s whistle. The back row of Isaac Dobbs, Josh Semple and Sean Carter worked overtime being the first to everything.

With half time looming Southport were awarded yet another penalty and they kicked deep into the Oldham 22. From the line out they powered over to score an unconverted try to leave the half time score at 10-8 in Oldham’s favour.

Oldham made two changes at half time but the second half did not begin as Oldham would have wanted. Southport camped on the Oldham line and Oldham lost their first man to the sin bin with Jobson yellow carded for an intentional knock on. Oldham continued to defend their line and cleared to the halfway line. Upon making a tackle Tom Davies was alleged to come in and kill the ball from the side and was yellow carded to put Oldham down to 13 men. Southport eventually scored with the numbers being too much but with no conversion making it 13-10.

There have been times this season where Oldham would implode being men down and the opposition being in the ascendency. Especially getting little to nothing from the man in the middle.

A further try from Southport which was unconverted meant Oldham were down 18-10. With injuries mounting and positional changes made Oldham finally got some ball and on their first attack drew a penalty which Jobson made to get the score back to 18 - 13 in Southport’s favour. Now back at a full 15 Oldham seemed to lift, turning the Southport defence. A clearance kick from Southport went straight to Fitton, now at fullback, who put a high kick up which bounced on the edge of the 22-metre line which was misjudged by the Southport defence for him to gather and score. 18-18 with Alex Jobson to take the conversion. Jobson nailed the kick under pressure to put Oldham 20-18 up.

Still time for Southport to make their way up field and did so with the referee again compounding the afternoon with a penalty for no reason and Southport had a penalty chance to win the game. The kick did not have the legs and Oldham cleared. With a nail biting finish on the cards, Southport kicked a penalty to the corner. However cometh the hour cometh the man for Sean Carter to steal the lineout for Oldham to kick it dead and the referee blowing time for Oldham to win 20-18.

Whilst it has been a hard season for the Manor Park club this was an unexpected victory against a Southport team pushing for top spot in the league. A real team performance where any of the 18 players could have been awarded the Man of the match. Louis Fitton’s two tries would have him down as many’ s favourite however Sean Carter for his all-around carrying in attack and first up tackling in defence and the all-important line out steal meant he just got the nod.