After securing derby bragging rights against Rochdale with a goal and assist on his first start of the season, Hallam Hope is determined to help propel Oldham Athletic back to the Football League.
Hope’s spectacular third goal and James Norwood’s game-winning fourth helped the Latics overtake their rivals in the National League standings. Oldham’s winning streak in all competitions now stands at eight games, and the victory also gave new manager Micky Mellon a winning start. And thanks to Paul Murray’s support as the new first team coach, Hope was appreciative of the chance to leave his mark. A week after giving match-winning Harrison McGahey his first start in 13 months at Altrincham last Saturday, Mellon disclosed that Murray was also the one who suggested Hope to replace the injured Brennan Dickenson.
“To be honest, I think Paul Murray deserves the credit for that one,” Mellon responded when questioned about Hope’s selection in the starting lineup. “As a coaching staff and management team, we get together and decide on a strategy and the players who we think could help us win,” Hallam Hope said. “I’m delighted I did what I do as a manager and listened to my staff and went along with that, and he scored a terrific goal for us at a really important time.” And Hope was delighted to return Murray’s and the new manager’s confidence in him.
“Muzza is a great man. He and I got along well when we worked together at Carlisle. It’s crucial to have someone support you in that way, the forward remarked.
After returning from my international assignment with Barbados, I was absent for the first part of the week. The gaffer and I had a good conversation on Thursday. “To come, play and score for him today and get the three points is good.” Hope said, “I haven’t started a game in a long time. This time last year, I was recuperating from an alleged attack on a club parking lot that left me with serious injuries.”
“It’s been challenging, but I don’t really want to talk about what happened. It’s great that the new gaffer can join in because there have been a lot of bad days. “I’m just happy I could participate once more. All I want to do is look forward, go on, and try to start a run, score some goals, and put Oldham and myself in a position where we belong. “For me, it was a huge start, and it was much more satisfying to win and score. “It was similar to Davis Keillor-Dunn’s goal from our 1-0 victory here a few years ago. “I looked up and saw that it had come inside of me.
After Norwood chipped the keeper with a flick-on for the fourth, Hope said he was thrilled to be involved in such an exciting seven-goal thriller.
“To be honest, the scoreboard kind of reflects how chaotic the game was. Another plus is that I scored, so I’m simply happy that we won,” he remarked. “I doubt I’ve ever participated in a game like that. It was a little back and forth, but I’m just happy we won because one minute we were playing well and the next they scored. It’s a legitimate derby. The rivalry and number of our fans here tell you. Getting the victory for the supporters was just nice.”
