The Opposition View

Following yesterday’s heartbreaking 2-2 draw at Oldham Athletic, here are some views on the game from the Latics’ manager Dave Penney and a few of their fans.


Penney felt his side should have capitalized on their first half dominance but was ultimately grateful to have rescued a point with Pawel Abbott’s controversial last minute penalty.

“It was a major disappointment as it was a home game we should have won having taken the lead,” he said. “We should have taken the game on and won it, which would have given us some breathing space between ourselves and the teams beneath us in the table.”

“We weren’t as sharp and as bright as we were when we beat Orient, but when you are 2-1 down, you are always grateful for something like that at the death. I’m not sure either penalty was right but the ref had given one at their end so maybe that’s why we got one as well,” said Penney.



The Oldham fans had a variety of views on the penalty incidents and were generous in their praise of the superb vocal support the Wycombe fans gave their team yesterday.

The following extracts are taken from OWTB Forums, OAFC Message Board, BBC 606 and The Football Forum.



oafc-latics wrote:
‘Two poor teams on show today and probably a fair result. Credit to the Wycombe fans, great set of supporters, drowned out our lot calling for Penney’s head and didn’t stop. If only our fans were as good as that.’



Bob wrote:
‘We struggled today and were lucky to get a point, but the ref was crap and we should have had a penalty in the first-half for blatant hand ball. Thought the Wycombe fans were good seeing as they are almost certs to go down’



oafc_fan wrote:
‘We just did enough to get a point. That referee was a shocker – how was that a penalty for Wycombe?’



Rocky_Latic wrote:
‘We looked absolutely clueless after the break and a penalty was always going to be the only way of us getting an equaliser. Wycombe were poor first-half and we probably should have done more to get that second goal. Once their penalty went in and the second half started, they were a different side and didn’t look that bad. Had a couple of lads upfront and on the wings who started to run things. Fair play to their fans, they were brilliant. Only about two hundred of them, but the best to have come here this season for noise.’



opinions4u wrote:
‘We should have buried them long before their penalty.’



Lookers Carl wrote:
‘We got out of jail today. They were probably on a par with us but battled a lot harder and I think they will be more disappointed not to have come away with the three points. I think its fair to say that you couldn’t give one penalty and not the other. They were either both pens, or both not pens.’



Lee Sinnott wrote:
‘I must disagree, Taylor’s hands were raised. Hinshelwood’s were by his side.’



OAFC Ultra wrote:
‘I thought their pen was a blatant handball and our pen was very generous to say the least, but hey-ho that’s football. Poor performance in the end, after what was a good start by us.’



Prendy 1984 wrote:
‘Their penalty was blatant, not sure how there were any arguments. Ours was very generous and the ref was just waiting to even it up in my opinion. The ball was hammered at their player from about a yard away, never a penalty.’



Blue Hobbit wrote:
‘Wycombe came out to have a go in the second-half and we couldn’t do anything about it. We are truly woeful. We got lucky with the penalty – and we were lucky to get a draw. Wycombe fans made a fair bit of noise I thought.’



Snookmeister wrote:
‘The Wycombe fans were superb all game. Hats off.’



The Big Dog wrote:
‘Both are clear penalties in my opinion. The first – Taylor has his hands up high as he jumps and the ball is clearly diverted. The second – Abbott shoots and Hinshelwood leaves his hand low by his side but again stops the ball on it’s way to goal. Justice and fair play to the ref.’



Ernie For England wrote:
‘To be honest I thought neither of them were penalties!’



Nava wrote:
‘They were both clear penalties. The thing our players were complaining about was Ainsworth’s overhead kick that was close to taking Gregan’s head off just before Taylor’s handball. How he got away with that I’ll never know.’



Scapegoat wrote:
‘Looking at Wycombe’s recent results they seem to be in better form than Orient and that showed in their performance today. Before their penalty we were good for our lead, but after the pen and the mistake from Brill our fragile confidence showed. Heads dropped and it looked like we would lose.’



Next Game: Wycombe v Exeter – 20th March – 3.00pm