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Oldham Athletic 3-0 Accrington Stanley The One Where the Season Ended in the Sunshine

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​ There are last days of the season and then there are LAST DAYS OF THE SEASON. Today was firmly the latter — and I wasn’t watching from my usual spot in the Jimmy Frizzell end but from the players’ lounge. Different view. Different vibe. Same passionate Latics fan wearing her heart on her sleeve. But before we get to the game, a moment for the occasion itself. Today was the ball crew’s final game. Two seasons done, and what two seasons to have picked. Promotion back into the English Football League. Then this season — a 10th place finish. If you’d written that script two years ago nobody would have believed you. I hope those kids are friends for life because the memories they’ve made are genuinely special. Bitter sweet doesn’t quite cover it. Special mention too for the ground staff — the pitch looked absolutely immaculate. Someone deserves a very long holiday. And before kick off, as always, a moment of quiet reflection for those we’ve lost along the way this season. RIP to them all....
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The One Where We Drove to Wales and Back for a Heartbreaker

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​ Newport County 3-2 Oldham Athletic There are away days. Then there are AWAY days. Newport County — a modest 400 miles round trip — firmly falls into the latter category. Did I check the distance before buying the tickets? Reader, I did not. Did I regret it? Ask me again after the final whistle. The day started with Odie’s game finishing at 10:45, which meant a mad dash down the M6, onto the M5, over the bridge and into Wales with minutes to spare. No time for a sit down. No time for a brew. Just full Latics commitment. And the fancy dress on show made every mile worth it. Special mention to the BunkerBin men who were an instant crowd favourite. Latics fans — never change. The away stand at Newport is open air, which thankfully wasn’t an issue as the sun was blazing. The stewards were… enthusiastic. Very enthusiastic. So enthusiastic that my 12-year-old couldn’t visit the snack stand or the loo without adult supervision. I nearly called their bluff and escorted him into the men’s toil...
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​Sun, Graft, and a Late Equaliser

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Back at Boundary Park in the sunshine for a replay of the very first game of the season — MK Dons, who we drew 0-0 with back in August. Fewer roundabouts to navigate today though, so we’re already winning on that front 😄 The Opposition This isn’t just any MK Dons side mind — these are second in the league. So whatever happened in that first game, this was always going to be a proper test. Scrappy First Half And a test it was. Scrappy, stop-start, with MK Dons’ goalkeeper doing his absolute level best to time waste every single goal kick into next week. Infuriating stuff. We had decent possession but just couldn’t do anything with it. And then they broke — first real goal attempt and it’s past Hudson and into the net. 0-1. Boundary Park went quiet for a bit. Half time. Not what we wanted. Let’s see what Micky can do. Second Half — Same Story, Different Half More possession in the second half but the passes just weren’t finding the boys in blue. At one point Woods unleashed an overhead ...
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Wet, Windy, and Utterly Brilliant

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If Saturday was sunshine and sentiment, Tuesday was a completely different beast. Wet, windy, miserable — the kind of night that had already cancelled this fixture back in January. Didn’t look much better second time around. Watching from home tonight. But Boundary Park doesn’t do things by halves, and neither do this Oldham side. Four Minutes That’s all it took. Payne picks it up in our half, slides it through to Drummond, who breaks on the counter and runs half the pitch before finding the back of the net. His 6th of the season. Four minutes gone. 🎶 Drummond on fire! 🎶 🎶 Eieieio, up the football league we go 🎶 The rain could do one. Oldham Turn the Screw What followed was Oldham at their relentless best. High press, hungry for every ball, keeping Notts County pinned back and rattled. Hudson made a smart save when they did threaten on 11 minutes, but honestly it was all Oldham. Fondop was getting fouled every time he got near the ball — two bookings for Notts County just from foul...
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​96 Minutes of Sunshine

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I’ll be honest with you. This has been the hardest week of my life. My dad lost his battle with cancer, and I won’t pretend I was my usual self in my usual seat yesterday. But I had my blue goalkeeper top on. And we never lose when that’s on. Sunglasses on — needed them to hide a tear or two, but also genuinely needed them all game because Boundary Park was absolutely bathed in sunshine. Sometimes the universe gets the details right. And my boy was back with the ball crew. That helped too. Milestones Before a Ball Was Kicked What a week for the club, mind. Will Sutton’s 100th appearance for us — one of our own 🎶. Fondop reaching 50 goals, apparently the first player to do that since Andy Richie — GN9 doing what GN9 does. Matthew Hudson on 16 clean sheets, the most of any keeper in the EFL this season. And the news that Micky Mellon is staying until 2028. Chef’s kiss 😙 The reception when the lads came out was special. First chant of the day setting the tone perfectly: 🎶 Ten more year...
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Rocking at Prenton Park

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​ Away day to Tranmere, and despite them losing 10 of their last 11 with no manager in the dugout, there was still that nagging feeling this one could catch us out. You know the type of game. Getting There Came straight from Odie’s cup game going to penalties so only just made it for 2:35. Paid for parking at the ground in advance — only to find it full and still letting people in. And the stewards? Suddenly nowhere to be seen once they realised they’d overbooked it 😜. Classic. Packed Cowshed, Brilliant Atmosphere Got into the sellout Cowshed and it was already rocking. Fans in fine voice from the off. Took us about 20 minutes but when it came, it was worth the wait. A delightful delivery from Manny found Fondop, who scored a magnificent goal. An absolute thing of beauty. We were off the mark. Tranmere had a sniff just before half time but couldn’t get through our defence. And then — just before the whistle — Kavanagh slots it home. 2-0 at the break. Job’s a good’un. Second Half — Teq...
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Three Wins, Three Clean Sheets: Oldham 2-0 Crawley

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​ Sunny Days at Boundary Park Today’s game was against Crawley, back at Boundary Park, and it looks like the clouds are parting and the sun is coming out! In February! Didn’t think I’d need my shades 😎. Dominant First Half We dominated the first half, even though Crawley have – I think – the worst away record in the league. And the ref was on their side. I thought Dale Baines almost needed a police escort off the pitch at half time! We passed the ball with composure and looked like we only wanted to walk it into the back of the net. But then we broke forward, crossed to the back post where Stevens gets it and slots it home! 1-0. Great to see Stevens on top form. The weirdest throw-in from them – he kind of ran in the shape of a J. Bizarre, and for them, nowhere. Half Time Sunshine Half time and the sun comes out. We don’t need the floodlights on now, but guessing we can’t save the money and turn them off! Stevens Does It Again Looks like we’re starting the second half where we left of...
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