THREE unanswered second-half tries, including one from Tommy Brierley, won Oldham the points in a tight 28-18 win against Workington Town at Derwent Park, writes Kasey Smith.

Brierley, who played his first game since his leg fracture on March 27 last year, kickstarted a late Oldham fight-back as Roughyeds scored two in the last ten minutes to take the win.

Another welcome return to the Roughyeds side was Callum Cameron who was named in the starting line-up after serving the ban he incurred against Rochdale last September.

It was a wet and blustery day in West Cumbria and Roughyeds struggled to play their usual free-flowing game and came up with several first play errors in the first half.

Town were able to capitalise on a Joe Hartley knock on in front of his own try-line and took the lead just four minutes into the game, as Matty Henson forced his way over for a try which was converted by Ciaran Walker.

Roughyeds were quick to respond, and after the ball was shifted from left to right, it was Cameron who was first to pounce on a deft Martyn Ridyard kick to level the scores.

But the momentum swung again, and the weight of Workington’s Grant Reid was too much to handle for the Roughyeds scrambling defenders who couldn’t prevent him grounding the ball.

Then, Oldham piled on the pressure and George Hirst was nearly in, but Gregg McNally’s low-driven kick was too far.

Oldham came again, and this time Town couldn’t stop Gregg McNally scoring a try after he spotted a gap when he dummied a pass to Hartley.

A Ridyard penalty goal levelled the scores at 12-12, but his knock on from the kick off helped Workington to their third try through Jordan Thomson.

But Oldham were gaining more territory in the second half and able to build more pressure on the Town defence, thanks to Ridyard’s kicking game.

Oldham’s response came after some confusion in the Town defence when Jordan Paga booted the ball towards the try line.

The ball found its way to winger Tommy Brierley who couldn’t be stopped by the scrambling Town defenders to score Roughyeds’ third try.

With ten minutes to go, Town were still in the lead, but Roughyeds kept knocking on the door.

Then, Oldham were gifted a chance when Town couldn’t collect the ball cleanly on their own try line after a Kian Morgan kick.

In the subsequent set, a McNally lofted pass found Hartley in space as Oldham took the lead for the first time.

Oldham then sustained a massive Workington charge as they looked to nick it late on.

With the clock ticking down, Roughyeds were happy to see the game out, but after Ridyard’s kick bounced off the Workington defender, they scored another.

With the clock ticking down, Roughyeds were happy to see the game out without doing anything fancy.

That went out of the window when Ridyard’s last play kick bounced off a Workington defender.

As Workington tried to re-group, Oldham picked up the loose ball and kicked it out right to Hartley who went in again to secure the two points for Oldham.

WORKINGTON: Bickerdike; Anderson-Moore, Mossop, Hurst; Sabutey, Walker; Simpson, Thomson, Henson, Scholey, Barnes, Steele, Dawson. Subs: Marwood, Kirkup, Reid, Key (all used). 18th Man: Terrill.

OLDHAM: McNally; Hartley, Morgan, Ah Van; Ridyard, Paga; Meadows, Wilkinson, Nelmes, Cameron, Baker, Whittel. Subs: Slater, Blagbrough, Brierley, Moran (all used). 18th Man: Dom Newton.

Referee: Kevin Moore; HT: 12-10; Pens: 6-2; Att: 1,011