Before Oldham Athletic’s FA Cup debut this season, Paul Murray reminded the players of the club’s accomplishments over the last few decades through a lesson in history.
Less than 30 years ago, Latics were in the Premier League—though it was before most of the present team was born. They advanced to the FA Cup semifinals in both 1990 and 1994.
Their past is one of pride.
It has been assigned to Micky Mellon to concentrate on the club’s future. And it all began with a story that you never would have imagined yourself writing.
Although the chief executive, chairman, and other board members were caught off guard by the sudden resignation of interim CEO Steve Thompson during the week, Murray took temporary oversight and immediately went to work planning a brilliant plan.
“I tried to get them to understand what Oldham’s history is and what we’re like in the FA Cup and maybe that hit a tune with them, I’m not sure, but it was important we got through to the next round because we’re used to being in the first round,” Murray spoke on the way the team was prepared.
Having signed a three-year contract the day before, Mellon saw the action from the stands and afterwards acknowledged that he was impressed with what he saw, particularly the return of Harrison McGahey.
The writer was among those who took a double take when they saw the defender’s name on the teamsheet. In addition to keeping McGahey sidelined for more than a year, a severe back injury left him questioning if he would ever be able to play football again following two surgeries, one of which was unsuccessful.
He made up for lost time more than nicely.
In a 4-1-4-1 configuration designed to stifle an Altrincham squad riding a five-game winning streak to head the National League form table, McGahey served as a buffer for the back four. Then, McGahey, a commanding and expressive figure, gave them a hard blow. After Shaun Hobson nodded a corner to the far post from Ben Tollitt, who had replaced the injured Brennan Dickenson in the first half, McGahey was waiting on the edge of the six-yard box to guide it into the bottom corner.
Both teams had opportunities: Alex Reid, who had come on for the injured Devarn Green, had the chance of a stoppage time second, but he headed it off the line after rounding the goalkeeper, while Altrincham’s Dior Angus was denied by the crossbar.
McGahey’s goal in the 79th minute was sufficient to end the match and produce a little FA Cup magic. Ross, Banks (Burroughs 85), Jones, Baines, Osborne, Marriott, Conn-Clarke, Cooper, Newby, Angus, and Amaluzor (Sithole 85) are the Altrincham players. Gould, German, J. Jones, T. Jones, and Roscoe were not substituted.
Latics 4-1-4-1: Dickenson 6 (Tollitt 31 – 7), Green 6 (Reid 73 – 6), Lundstram 8, Sheron 6, Hudson 7; Sutton 6, Hobson 7, Hogan 7, Kitching 7; McGahey 8.
Norman, Shelton, Willoughby, Fondop, and Raglan were not substituted in.
Spokesman: Dale Baines Number present: 3,874
