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 — Tequila and Goals

Oldham attacking towards their own fans in the second half, who had been absolutely magnificent all game. A 15-minute rendition of Tequila rang around the away end. Now — I loved it. But please, let that be a special Prenton Park memory. Don’t let it become the new normal. Some things are better kept rare 🎶.

The second half chants were brilliant though:

🎶 “You laughed at us when we went down, but who the f** is laughing now”* 🎶

🎶 “Say hello to Rochdale” 🎶

Brilliant.

The Penalty

75 minutes in and we break. Ball up to Drummond who runs the full length of the pitch, gets to Murphy in goal — and he brings him down. Penalty! Not sure it was, if I’m honest, but we’ve been robbed of so many that were nailed on, we’ll take it without a second thought. The challenge looked to have done the keeper too, and yes — he was being stretchered off. The whole ground singing Tequila throughout.

Fondop had the ball in hand like he was stepping up, and if the Tranmere bench tried to brief the replacement keeper on his penalty technique — wasted effort. As soon as they were set, he rolled it to Stevens. Cool as you like. 3-0.

Still no song for Stevens, mind. Come on lads, we really need to fix that.

Late Drama and a Ball Boy Incident

They grabbed a scrappy one late on — the only fly in the ointment on the day. But it hardly dampened the celebrations. Tequila ringing out again at full time, brilliant scenes with the players coming over to the fans.

One thing I genuinely loved — when we subbed off Kavanagh, Drummond and Fondop all together, and each one walked off to their own individual songs. That’s a proper football moment right there.

And what on earth was going on with the ball boy? He kept throwing the ball at our players on the sideline. The linesman had a quiet word with the ref, who wandered over to the tunnel — and just like that, no ball boy in that area for the rest of the game 🤔. Make of that what you will.

Oh yes and the Tranmere player who fell backwards over the advertising boards trying to take a throw in! 

The Bigger Picture

Three more points in the bag. We’re now 7 points off the playoff spots with a game in hand.

Can we dream of Wembley again? 💙

#OAFC 🔵⚪️💙