Oldham's much-hyped media crisis failed to materialise and they arrived at Spotland with the sole intent of sucking Hornets into a centre-field battle with quite the fattest pack in the NFP. And they succeeded. On a day where Hornets' careless regard for ball control gave Oldham significantly more possession then they earned, Hornets showed character to claw themselves back and swipe the game from under the noses of an Oldham side that didn't have the versatility to adapt to the second half's monsoon-like conditions.

With Danny Sculthorpe starting his first game for 8 months and James Bunyan putting in a brave stint at Prop, Hornets were always going to struggle against the bellicose talents of Clegg and, later, Danny guest. But Steve Molloy's a crafty bloke.  Oldham kept all of their possession tight through the middle early on and, with Hornets gifting them plenty of it, the big Oldham pack happily bulldozed its way around the park.

It took a bit of Mayberry magic after 10 minutes to break the deadlock - Casey taking the ball on a looping run, passing half a dozen mesmerised defenders to score.

Oldham were back on terms within three minutes with a try from Goddard. Hornets restored their lead on 17 minutes - Pachniuk backing up a scuttling Tawhai break to outpace the defence and score from 20 metres. Ayresey converted.

But Oldham came back. First Doran, then Barber to level the scores. With the break beckoning, Oldham took advantage of another dropped ball for Barber to score again. And it was Barber who slotted the drop goal to send Oldham in leading 17-10.

With the storm clouds gathering, Hornets started the second half in determined mood. Just two minutes in another break from Tawhai found Smith in attendance and he strolled in to score. Ayresey goaled and Hornets were within a point. Then the heavens opened.

Spotland was hit by a torrential rain storm which put the skids under Oldham. As Hornets adapted the game plan to include huge kicks down field - skidding and spinning on the drenched surface - Oldham carried on ploughing their fat-lads furrow down the middle.

First Tawhai landed a pinpoint 40-20 only for the referee to take advice of a touch judge 80 metres away and give Oldham possession. Then Sculthorpe jabbed a monster 30-10 kick deep into Oldham territory. As the rain fell, the tide slowly turned.

Just past the hour Tawhai put in a kick that was charged down by Goddard and dropped on by Hough who was a good six feet in front of him. Danny Wood - on the field for the groggy Pachniuk who had been clattered several times in back play - stepped up and coolly slotted home a 40 metre penalty into the teeth of the storm.

Hornets shut up shop. Oldham ran out of steam and the job was done.

Admittedly, it wasn't pretty and Oldham battled well for a team in their position, but when it came to having the steel to take this one, Hornets edged out their neighbours.

12 unforced Hornets errors tell the tale of this game in truth. But in the Oldham derby, it's the result that counts and Hornets supporters joyfully reminded their vanquished rivals that it's four-nil for the season - and that it's looking increasingly likely that Oldham will have to scrap it out in the also-rans playoffs (though it's fair to say that they're probably the best side on the third page of the Ceefax tables).

With results elsewhere going in our favour, third place is now firmly in our hands. Hally will be more than aware the shoddy handling that's plagued us all season and will want it stamped out once and for all if we are to secure it.

But hey, for now we can all smile. Four-nil. What a bloody good season it's been!