CITY 1 OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
FA Carling Premiership
4th October 1993
Attendance 21,401
scorers
City Sheron(87)
Oldham Sharp(57)
Ref J Borrett
City Dibble, Edghill, Phelan, McMahon, Curle, Kernaghan, Groenendijk, Sheron, Quinn, Flitcroft, Holden – subs Lomas(17), Mike(69), Margetson(unused
Oldham Hallworth, Fleming, Jobson, Redmond Henry, Halle, Bernard, Milligan, Barlow, Sharp, Beckford – sub Gerrard(89), Ritchie(unused), Adams(unused)
MIKE SHERON CELEBRATES GRABBING CITY’S LATE EQUALISER
FROM THE PRESS BOX
STEPHEN BLERLEY WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 5TH OCTOBER 1993
An equalising goal by Mike Sheron three minutes from time failed to still protests against the beleaguered Manchester City chairman Peter Swales last night.
The home crowd’s initial roar of relief had barely died away when chants of “Swales out” resumed, echoing a mantra of discontent that has begun early in the first half and continued well after the final whistle with a demonstration outside the main stand.
Maine Road has known frequent moments of the surreal in recent years and the unreality is currently compounded by the doubts surrounding the clubs eventual ownership.
A planned candle-lit demonstration against Swales failed to ignite, but to many supporters it seems that City’s ambitions have been blowing like a candle in the wind for 20 years, nobody quite knowing who to turn against whenever the rain set in, other than the chairman.
City had Phelan back in defense after a calf injury but this good news was considered dampened by the late withdrawal of Coton, victim of a cricked neck in training. Dibble, who Horton is hoping will sign a new contract, was given a rare chance to impress.
Oldham, with only one victory in their previous nine matches, came to this local derby with feelings reflected by the sickly green of their away strip. Their early encouragement was minimal, but they grew in belief after Sharp’s goal.
After a clutch of City corners it needed a fine save by Hallworth to prevent Kernaghan, City’ss recent expensive signing from Middlesbrough, from scoring with an excellently struck volley. It was the highlight of an opening 20 minutes which by any standards was dire.
City’s hopes of settling in to any sort of rhythm were disrupted when Groenendijk hobbled painfully out of play after a tackle by Jobson. A Quinn header pushed around the post by Hallworth increased pulse rates by a beat or two but it was only temporary excitement.
Beckford, who began his career at Maine Road, did his best to enliven matters with a curling long-range free-kick which sent Dibble lunging hard to his left. Both goalkeepers, at least have reason to feel pleased with themselves at half-time, moments before the Unlucky Holden had outwitted two defenders only to see his shot hit a post.
At least this raised the tempo for the second half. A diving header by Beckford beat Dibble but suffered the same fate as Holden’s shot. Lomas should have done better with a clear opening for City but shot hurriedly and wide, and shortly afterwards Oldham took the lead.
City fans jeered in the 57th minute as Halle’s cross from wide on the right ballooned into the air and appeared to be drifting out of play. Oldham, never a side to spurn apparently lost causes, knew better; Henry followed the flight and headed back across goal for Sharp to shoot low pass Dibble.
That goal exacerbated the home crowd’s Ill-will towards the City chairman, and Oldham raised their game considerably for the remainder of the second half.
The visitors clung to their three points with increasing tenacity. Time was running out for City and when Hallworth blocked a late effort by Sheron all seemed lost for them, but then the Oldham goalkeeper, injured in the process, failed to hold a low shot by Quinn and Sheron pounced. Oldham deserved better.
