Oldham 25 Cougars 24- A STUNNING performance by the Cougars warmed travelling fans on a bitterly cold afternoon at Boundary Park.

Even a last-gasp drop goal from John Hough could do little to cool the enthusiasm of a committed display that came close to overturning the NL1 side.

"We felt we deserved at least a point, but the hold a first division side to within one point shows we are moving in the right direction," said player-coach Barry Eaton.

Eaton was forced to miss his first game in four years following a shoulder injury picked up in the Rochdale game the previous week. He had planned to take play through the pain, but the club's medical staff convinced him it would be foolish to risk a more long-term injury.

It also gave director of rugby, Peter Roe, the chance to rotate his squad again with New Zealand import Scott Nixon moving into the scrum half role. He relished the task and produced one of his best performances for the club.

But there were a string of other outstanding displays with man of the match Phil Stephenson leading from the front, backed up by fellow prop Toby Williams who has an unsatiable appetite for hard work.

But for all their eventual euphoria, travelling fans were close to despair as Oldham ran up a 14-0 lead in the first 20 minutes.

The home side's plan became clear within the opening minutes, push up into attack and hoist high balls out to wings. It was a plan that worked to perfection.

Their first try came from Andy Gorey after he put winger Andy Jackson under pressure and collected a high ball. The second score was almost identical with Chris Percival doing the honours.

The two scorers then teamed up to add the third with Percival setting up Gorey to race in from half way.

It looked like being a long, cold, afternoon.

The first hint of an improvement to set the pulse racing came from Stephenson with a classy try that put them back in the game.

James 'Buster' Feather was at hooker with Andy 'No Relation' Feather at stand off, both make their full first team debuts.

James made a break down the centre of the field and was backed up by Stephenson. The prop broke through the defensive wall, looked for support and finding he was on his own produced an astonishing turn of speed to race 35m to the line. Richard Knight added the conversion.

Stepho's charge transformed the team and for the rest of the half they totally dominated.

Scott Nixon looked more eager to get involved and burst through from short range to score his first try for the club as he finished off an impressive move by centre Mick Fogerty who was revelling in the challenge of taking on his home town club.

Andy Feather appeared to steal past the Oldham defence almost unnoticed on his way to his own first points for the senior team.

He score gave Cougars a 16-14 lead at the break and the Rougheads were left wondering what had happened to their early domination.

Five minutes into the second half they were further ahead after home stand-off Simon Svabic hoisted another high ball into the corner. Both Fogerty and Alec Brown challenged for the ball alongside the Oldham attackers.

Fogerty won possession and raced from virtually on his own try line to with 35m at the opposite end. He was tracked all the way by 18-year-old Alec Brown, Fogerty cut inside to give Brown more room and supplied a perfect pass that allowed him to cruise home.

Despite more pressure it was the home side who hit back with tries from Dean Gorton and Gareth Barber putting them 24-22 ahead.

After Chris Hough had clashed with Matt Foster, playing in the second row, it was left to Matt Bramald to take a shot at a 35m penalty. It sailed between the uprights, levelled the scores and put Cougars back on a roll.

With time running out they launched an attack, went to run in a try instead of setting up for a drop goal, and were bundled into touch.

A long kick and a cruel bounce caught Bramald in possession behind his own line and Hough slotted Oldham's drop goal following the drop out.

Deep in injury time Cougars had one last chance, but Andy Feather's drop goal attempt was agonisingly wide of its mark.