KEIGHLEY COUGARS celebrated the announcement of new owners with a crucial 15-8 win at home to Oldham.

Ahead of their League One victory, which was a huge boost to their League One top five hopes, the club released a statement revealing a takeover by Austria Holdings.

It read: "We are pleased to announce that a deal as been agreed between Austria Holdings and former major shareholder and chairman Gary Fawcett subject to the formalities being completed.

"A big thank you to all our supporters, volunteers, players and coaches for sticking with us through this period of uncertainty.

"Austria Holdings will be announcing the new chairman in due course.

"On behalf of the club we would like to thank Gary for his nine years as chairman and wish him well in all future ventures."

Coach Craig Lingard rated the victory over play-off rivals Roughyeds as the best of his tenure at the Cougars helm.

Despite his squad being decimated by players leaving, in light of the club's financial plight, and injuries and suspensions, they showed massive character to close the gap to just two points on third-placed Oldham.

Oldham took the lead after a quarter of an hour as Keighley-born Lee Kershaw offloaded to the onrushing Luke Hooley to touch down.

Davey Dixon was placed on report moments later for an apparent trip, despite making contact with Hooley with his hand.

The home side drew level though when Christopher Cullimore was held short and Mike Emmett spotted the gap beneath the uprights to dive over.

Keighley took the lead with eight minutes of the first half remaining as Benn Hardcastle opted for a drop goal on the last tackle from 20 metres out.

But the visitors took a point advantage into the interval as Scott Law was penalised for interference in the tackle and Paul Crook coolly slotted over from 55 metres on the sound of the hooter.

The second half was all about handling the nerves and pressure of a tight encounter and the Cougars gained controal with three Hardcastle penalty conversions.

The first came from an offside call before clever play from the ruck by Nathan Conroy caught the Oldham square markers cold.

The third of the penalty conversions came for lying on in the tackle but this effort from the boot came from two talking points.

An Oldham defender was first placed on report after Kieran Moran made the referee and his touch judge aware of an alleged biting incident.

From the first tackle following this incident, it flared up in a big way following a high shot and both Adam Jones and Brendon Rawlins were sent for ten minutes to cool off.

The visiting side were penalised once again for a high tackle and Hardcastle again took the two points on offer before the final whistle was greeted by big Cougars celebrations.