Oldham Athletic Ladies 3-2 Rivacre Ladies
Graham Bowman

Latics Ladies racked up another win to continue their excellent start to the season, this time seeing off Rivacre on home soil.

Oldham took full advantage of the conditions to pin the opposition in their own half from the kick-off.  With the wind at their backs Oldham launched wave after wave of attack only to find a determined goalkeeper on good form thwart every effort.

As the half progressed the brave keeper threw herself in the way of everything Oldham could muster and you could sense the frustration of the home side beginning to grow.  Lisa Jones and Cerise Brooks had attempts cleared off the line then Shirley Boulton's curling shot beat the keeper and looked destined for the top corner thumped against the post and rebounded to safety

It looked like the half would finish deadlocked but a well worked corner routine caught the Rivacre defence sleeping and eventual player of the match Laura Challoner ghosted in to power home a header and put the home side a goal up at the end of the half.

Early in the second half Rivacre fell for the same trick again and this time the ball dropped to Kelly Sessman who saw the ball home in great style to make it two-nil to Latics.

Just when you thought the game was safe a defensive mix-up let Rivacre's quick thinking forward strike back to half the deficit.  Oldham continued to pressure the away team's goal and eventually restored the 2 goal advantage from yet another well-rehearsed corner and once again it was Laura Challoner who found herself free to punish some sloppy defending.

Rivacre to their credit then threw caution to the wind and put everything into attack and the pressure resulted in a goal but it was too little too late and Oldham finished the game deserving winners.