With the opening league fixtures initially delayed due to hard playing surfaces, the recent rain was welcomed with open arms as Oldham finally got their competitive season underway.
And what better way to start than with a local derby against close rivals Ashton-under-Lyne?
Ashton had enjoyed the upper hand in the two league meetings last season, winning both encounters and even ending Oldham's much-prized Fortress status. That history added plenty of spice to an already eagerly anticipated Cup quarter-final, with both sides desperate to claim the local bragging rights.
Oldham went into the game with a strong squad, including the return of former skipper Nick Hackman from his second retirement, fellow former captain Ross Cooper following injury, and youngster Corey Kelly, also returning from the treatment room.
With newly appointed club captain Tom Davies leading the side, Oldham were ready for battle.
Ashton opened the game with a long kick-off and an excellent chase immediately put Oldham under pressure.
A charged-down kick then put the home side on the back foot, before an isolated carry from Hackman resulted in an early Ashton penalty for holding on.
The visitors elected to take the points, but Oldham were handed an early reprieve as the kick was scuffed wide.
Oldham's defence, led by Sean Carter, Karl Shenton and Phil Conroy, stood firm as Ashton looked to attack. The visitors were carrying strongly and moving the ball quickly, but Oldham refused to buckle.
A turnover from Davies provided Oldham with their first real opportunity to turn defence into attack. The skipper hoofed the ball high and long up field, giving flying winger Reece Blakeley the chance to apply pressure. Blakeley's chase forced Ashton into a hurried kick, which Conroy covered superbly before recycling possession.
Strong carries from Josh Semple, Paul Wardle and Isaac Dobbs pushed Oldham into Ashton territory, and when the visitors were caught offside, Jobson was handed the opportunity to open the scoring.
His first attempt narrowly missed the left upright.
The game continued to ebb and flow, with both sides showing plenty of enthusiasm but also understandable early-season rust.
Oldham's lineout, an area which had caused problems at times last season, was looking considerably sharper. Carter produced an excellent turnover from Ashton's first lineout, handing possession back to the home side.
The visitors responded with some huge defence of their own, but Oldham continued to probe.
Eventually the pressure told. Hackman, Semple and Dobbs made valuable ground with a series of powerful carries before Ashton were penalised for failing to roll away at the ruck. This time, Jobson made no mistake, calmly slotting the penalty through the posts. OLDHAM 3 – 0 ASHTON
Ashton responded immediately. Their kick-off chase once again put Oldham under pressure and a superb charge-down from the visitors' back row recovered possession deep inside the Oldham half.
Wave after wave of Ashton pressure followed.
Oldham defended desperately, with Lewis Ward, Jordan McEwan and Simon Renshaw among those putting their bodies on the line, but eventually the visitors found a way through and crossed under the posts. The conversion was added. OLDHAM 3 – 7 ASHTON
Ashton continued to threaten from the restart and, for a spell, Oldham were hanging on.
Several Ashton line breaks looked certain to produce further points, but on two occasions the unpredictable rugby ball bounced kindly for Oldham, with the visitors unable to juggle and regather.
It was a crucial spell — and one that could easily have changed the outcome had Ashton capitalised.
Oldham were dealt further blows when Ward and Renshaw were forced off through injury, with James Edwards and Ross Cooper entering the action.
McEwan moved into the scrum-half role, bringing his experience to the position, while working alongside Davies to help settle the Oldham attack. The response was excellent.
Semple, Hackman and Dobbs continued to make inroads, while the Oldham backs began to find space.
Corey Kelly produced a superb individual break to take Oldham closer to the Ashton line.
Then, right on the stroke of half-time, came the moment that changed the momentum of the game.
With possession in hand, skipper Tom Davies spotted an opportunity. A delicate touch of the boot sent an inch-perfect kick through the Ashton defence. Jobson read it perfectly.
The fullback pounced on the ball and crossed under the posts before converting his own try.
From 7-3 down, Oldham had turned the game around in the final moments of the half.
HALF-TIME: OLDHAM 10 – 7 ASHTON
Coach Jim Forster's message at the break was simple: retain possession and maintain defensive shape.
Oldham did exactly that. Now playing with the wind behind them, the home side started the second half with confidence and, more importantly, composure. The biggest difference was the defence.
Ashton moved the ball from side to side but repeatedly found the door firmly shut, with Shenton, Dobbs and Carter leading an increasingly dominant defensive effort.
When Oldham had the ball, they were beginning to look more cohesive too. McEwan and Davies controlled proceedings from half-back, allowing Oldham to build pressure through multiple phases.
Then came the breakthrough.
A loose Ashton kick fell into the hands of Reece Blakeley. The winger needed no second invitation.
Blakeley accelerated towards the line, gliding past defenders before appearing to be stopped just short by a superb last-ditch tackle. But he wasn't finished. Stretching himself to the limit, Blakeley powered over the line, with James Edwards providing valuable support. Jobson narrowly missed the conversion from out wide. OLDHAM 17 – 7 ASHTON
Oldham now had control of the contest and began to turn the screw.
Rhys Jones produced a superb leap from the restart, rising like a salmon to claim the ball in the air, while Luke Ferrier carried strongly as Oldham continued to build phases.
McEwan's pressure eventually forced another Ashton infringement, with the visitors caught offside.
Jobson stepped up and added another three points. OLDHAM 20 – 7 ASHTON
Oldham's tactical kicking from Jobson, Davies and McEwan continued to pin Ashton back, while the relentless chasing of Blakeley, Edwards and Conroy ensured the visitors were given little respite.
The Oldham lineout was also continuing to shine, with further steals from Dobbs and Carter keeping the pressure firmly on Ashton.
And then Carter decided to get himself on the scoresheet. The forward produced a superb solo break, bursting through the Ashton defence and powering his way under the posts. Jobson converted with ease. OLDHAM 27 – 7 ASHTON. It was the perfect reward for an outstanding all-round performance from Carter.
To their credit, Ashton refused to surrender. The visitors began to find some space late in the game, with strong carries and quick ball giving them a period of sustained possession. Oldham's defence, however, remained resolute. Kelly, Hackman, Carter and Shenton were among those making important defensive contributions as Ashton searched desperately for a way back.
A further Ashton break looked certain to produce a try, only for McEwan to produce a superb last-ditch tackle to deny them. Eventually, however, an Oldham player was penalised for an off-the-ball challenge, giving Ashton an opportunity to exploit the extra-man advantage.
The visitors finally broke through and scored in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed, but it reduced the deficit slightly. There would be no comeback.
FULL-TIME: OLDHAM 27 – 12 ASHTON CUP SEMI-FINAL BOUND
A hugely encouraging start to the competitive season sees Oldham progress to the Cup semi-final, with plenty of positives to take from a performance full of character, discipline and determination.
The defensive effort was particularly impressive, while the improvement at set piece was equally encouraging.
Most importantly, Oldham had secured the local bragging rights and ended the afternoon with a place in the last four. The next challenge comes on 19th October, when Oldham travel to Fleetwood for the semi-final. It's always a tough battle up there, but Oldham will make the journey full of confidence following Saturday's impressive derby victory.
MAN OF THE MATCH — SEAN CARTER
It was fitting that the Man of the Match award went to Sean Carter. An outstanding contribution in attack, defence and at the set piece saw Carter play a huge role in Oldham's victory — capped off perfectly by his second-half try. A thoroughly deserved award.
Cup semi-final secured. Derby bragging rights secured. The Fortress is back.
