Heysham Atoms 4 Oldham St Annes 3

THE Atoms returned to action at the Trimpell after an enforced three week lay off and produced a gritty performance that was as close as then scoreline suggests.

Up until the final 12 minutes the Atoms had remained pointless but had looked threatening on a number of occasions.
The decisive set of six looked to have lost its momentum when Dave McVernon clattered into his opposite number leaving him unconscious in front of the posts. Once the debris had been removed a 'settler' drive gave the Atoms the option of an attacking kick on the last.
The half-time team talk had highlighted a possible weakness on Oldham's right wing. This is where the 'bomb' was directed and the willing chasers put the pressure on the catcher.

Opportunity
Ian Woods took advantage of this pressure and rose above everyone to claim the ball and just for good measure juggled with the ball a couple of times - before grounding the ball for the winning score.
Before the game Oldham had claimed fourth spot in the league after an impressive run of early form.
They came fired up and took the early initiative settling down better to weather conditions and keeping the ball nice and tight around the rucks.
The inactivity of the Atoms over the last couple of weeks has given the coaches plenty of opportunity to work on the defensive side of the game.
They had plenty thrown at them in the early stages but were more that up to the task. It was when the Atoms had the ball that they looked vulnerable, making some uncharacteristic unforced errors that could be put down to poor ball control in contact and a lack of patience in forcing the last pass.
The first quarter was mostly all to Oldham's advantage but all they could show for this pressure was a drop goal and a penalty from in front of the sticks.

Slowly the Atoms began to assert themselves with the ball in hand and some quick play the balls drew the penalties. Helme made a half break down the left wing, finding Steve Bowman in support.
He charged for the line only to be tackled two yards short. This gave the Atoms some confidence to expand the game a little with wingers Freedman and Goodfellow seeing more of the ball. Up until half time the scoring opportunities for both sides were limited and this is how the score remained till after the break.
Brian Cambidge has had his injury problems this season, but when he came into the game from the bench, the Atoms looked more like opening up a solid Oldham defence.
Guy Richardson moved up into the hooking role and his speed off the mark made him some good yards around the play the ball.
A sloppy 15 minute period saw both sides unable to hold onto the greasy ball with neither side completing a set of six in this section of game. Normality was restored and the Atoms got a chance to get on the scoreboard.

First Hartlebury was just wide with a penalty, then it was Mike Hope's turn to shave the uprights with his penalty attempt. Cambidge was held up short of the line but it was going to be one play that would be decisive in the game.
This came with 12 minutes left on the clock. Helme put up the kick and 'Salmon' Woods did the rest.
A frantic last 10 minutes saw the Atoms trying to run the clock down and Oldham searching for the field goal that would tie the game.
On one such attempt Andy Downey superbly charged the ball down as well as recovering the ball to boot. The centre was having a fine game and has added a solidity to the midfield since his return to the side.
There was some heart fluttering moments as the game came to a close, none more so than Steve Bowman's quick tap penalty and charge down the touch line with seconds remaining.

Sixteen-year-old winger Martin Pike came on in the final quarter and he must get a special mention for the 'Tackle of the Day' on his opposite number. Not only did he stop him in his tracks but lifted and dumped him with great technique that had the crowd and players alike singing his praises.
On the day the man of the match points went to Cambidge, McVernon and the hard working Rob Shaw but the team defence was the winner on the day.
It is some time since the Atoms kept a team tryless and it is a great boost for the rest of the season.

ATOMS: Richardson, Goodfellow, Downey, Allan, Freedman, Hope, Helme, McVernon, Aldren, Woods, Shaw, Bowman, Hartlebury. Res: Pike, Cambidge, Weed R, Pyrah.