Oldham Athletic

Oldham Athletic chairman Frank Rothwell has had a chuckle about Manchester United crumbling away at Brentford in the Premier League.

Speaking at half time of Oldham’s game on BT Sport, Rothwell said towards the end of the interview: “Do you know what’s happening to United?” As Latics were taking on Dorking Wanderers in the National League, Manchester United were crumbling away at Brentford in the Premier League. Oldham used to battle Manchester United in the Premier League in the 1990s and were involved in FA Cup semi-final clashes against the Red Devils in 1990 and 1994; the two clubs’ close proximity has also fuelled the rivalry.

Latics survived a late Dorking revival to mark the first home game of Frank Rothwell's ownership with all three points in front of the BT Sport cameras.

Porter notched his first goal of his second spell at the club with a confident finish from the left of goal, and the points were seemingly safe with 23 minutes to play courtesy of a thundering finish from Tollitt, who netted with the aid of a deflection. But Athletic stuck to their task and were eventually rewarded with a victory from a contest in which they were the more dangerous side. Latics survived a late Dorking revival to mark the first home game of Frank Rothwell’s ownership with all three points in front of the BT Sport cameras.

Not in the Rothwell family's wildest dreams, according to new Oldham Athletic chairman Frank, did they envisage so many people turning out to watch the first ...

This club has been in the doldrums for years, lurching from one crisis to the next and near catastrophe under a Lemsagam regime that oversaw two relegations in their four-year stewardship, had a mountain of debt and ostracised supporters. Not only have these local business people ploughed considerable amounts of money into a football club that was on the brink, they have poured their heart and soul into it too. Whether complacency set in, or energy preservation in soaring temperatures kicked in, only the players can answer that. Quite the opposite in fact. Thankfully for Latics, there was more precision as Ben Tollitt’s brilliant goal proved decisive. Not in the slightest.

Latics usher in new era with home victory. By Matt Badcock. HERE WE GO: Hallam Hope, left, is mobbed after scoring Oldham Athletic's first goal against ...