Written in the Stars: When Everything Aligns at Boundary Park

History in the Making

Back at Boundary Park following our breakthrough win away last week, and today felt special before we even kicked off. If we beat Bromley, we’ll have beaten every team in the EFL - all 91 teams over our history! Could today be the day? It felt like it was written in the stars.

Pre-match ceremonies honoring Matthew Hudson, Mike Fondop, and Mickey Mellon for reaching 100 games each. Three milestones, one afternoon, and the big question - could this be the game to finally get Fondop on the scoresheet?

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves - Bromley came to Boundary Park unbeaten this season. This was never going to be easy.

Four Seasons in 90 Minutes

We started bright from the first whistle - up for it, playing great football, and looking like a team that remembered how to win. End-to-end stuff in the first half, though neither team really tested the keepers properly.

The biggest threat came from above - those dark clouds looming over Boundary Park, threatening to steal our sunshine. And boy, did they deliver! All four seasons in one 90 minutes. One minute you can’t see because of the sun glare, the next you’re getting soaked through by proper Manchester rain. But who cares when there’s football to be played?

Going in at half-time 0-0, but the football was promising.

Second Half: When Everything Clicks

We came out of the blocks flying in the second half. Great play from the back four right through to the front - everyone playing well in their positions, everyone understanding their role. This is what we’ve been building toward.

Then came the moment that had everyone scratching their heads - cross comes in for Fondop, their keeper comes for it, heads it away, and then goes down injured like he’d made contact with our striker. But no, it was just the ball! Get up, mate!

Speaking of their players, can we talk about their number 30 for a minute? The lad needs new elastic in his shorts because they were sitting under his backside rather than covering it! Is that the fashion these days, or did someone forget to tell him how shorts are supposed to work?!

The Fondop Show

Great pressure from all the boys, and then Fondop hits the bar. That moment where your heart stops - is it really going to be one of those games where we can’t find the back of the net? We’ve been here before, haven’t we?

Michael Mellon looked disappointed to be subbed, but the lad put in a proper shift and got a rapturous round of applause from the fans. You can see the quality there - just needs time to develop.

Then, 82 minutes in, it happened. Ball played down the right-hand side, cross to the back post, and who’s there rising above everyone else? God’s number 9! Fondop headed it into the back of the net!

1-0! 🎶 Fondop again, ole ole ole! 🎶

Finally! The man who’d been working so hard for his first goal, on his milestone day, when we needed it most. Written in the stars, indeed.

Ball Boy Drama and Crowd Justice

But let’s talk about the funniest moment of the afternoon - late in the second half, ball goes for a goal kick, and our Odie dutifully gets the ball back to keep the game flowing. What does Smith, their keeper, do? Snatches it right out of his hands!

Don’t worry, Odie - the Jimmy Frizzell Stand has your back! Boos galore for the keeper who clearly doesn’t understand proper ball boy etiquette. You don’t mess with our ball boy, especially not when his mum’s in the stand taking notes for the blog!

Nail-Biting Finish

Can we hold onto the lead and get our first home win? Well, Bromley weren’t going to just roll over. They broke forward, putting us under serious pressure. One shot looked destined for the back of the net, but there’s Matthew Hudson, tipping it over the bar on his big day. And then again - safe in Hudson’s hands.

Nervous few minutes, but we held on. Three points at Boundary Park!

Man of the Match and Team Performance

Fondop got Man of the Match, but honestly, it could have gone to any of the Oldham players. Everyone put in a proper shift. Great to see the link-up play between Robson and Hannat developing. Conlon was absolutely amazing - even took a knock to the head and finished the game in a shirt with no name or number and a bandage around his head like some kind of football warrior!

That’s what you call commitment.

The Bigger Picture

Three points and only three points off the playoff positions!

Now, I know it’s early days, and I know we shouldn’t get carried away, but… only three points off the playoffs! After everything we’ve been through, after the slow start to the season, after all the frustration with not scoring goals - here we are, within touching distance of where we want to be.

It’s too early to dream about playoffs… isn’t it?!

What’s Working:

• ✅ Fondop finally getting his goal on milestone day

• ✅ Hudson solid as ever on his 100-game celebration

• ✅ Team playing as a unit from back to front

• ✅ Home crowd getting behind the team

• ✅ Historic achievement - beaten all 91 EFL teams!

• ✅ Only 3 points off playoffs (steady on, Andrea!)

Written in the Stars

Sometimes football gives you those perfect afternoons where everything aligns. Milestone games, historic achievements, breakthrough moments, and three precious points. The weather might have been all over the place, but the football was exactly what we’ve been waiting for.

From Hudson’s century to Fondop’s first goal to beating every EFL team in our history - this was a day to remember at Boundary Park.

Roll on the next one - because if this is what we’re capable of when everything clicks, then maybe, just maybe, those playoff dreams aren’t completely mental after all.

Come On You Latics! 💙

P.S. - Someone needs to have a word with Bromley’s number 30 about proper shorts etiquette. There are standards to maintain!