Betfred League One

Keighley Cougars 15

Oldham Roughyeds 8

THE scenes at full-time told you all you needed to know as the Keighley Cougars continued their pursuit of the play-offs with victory over Oldham Roughyeds.

Jubilation filled the air after a gritty two points was won on the evening where the future of the club was secured with an announcement prior to kick-off.

And the buoyant mood around Cougar Park before and after the victory was shared by head coach Craig Lingard.

“That’s the best performance since I’ve been at the club,” confessed the beaming Lingard.

“After the last two or three weeks that we’ve had off the field, the effort that all the lads put out there was just outstanding.

“You just have to go back three weeks before the problems off the field emerged and look at the team that went out there and played tonight and once you take into consideration the players who have left or are injured and suspended, we’re missing nine of what would have been our first choice 17.

“The desire to play and the togetherness was all there tonight and that’s all we’ve been looking for.

“The players have been reassured of the state of the club and the 17 who went out there and pulled a shirt on tonight all want to stay at the club and play for the Keighley Cougars and for me as a coach and for the fans on the terraces, that’s all you want from the players.

“So for the guys to go out there and do what they’ve done after the last few weeks we’ve had, I’m just immensely proud of the boys.”

Oldham took the lead after the quarter of an hour mark as Keighley born Lee Kershaw managed to get an offload away from the ground 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, Mike Emmett spotted the gap beneath the uprights and dove over from close range.

Keighley then took the lead for the first time on the evening 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 it would be the visitors that took a point advantage into the interval as Scott Law 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 regained and extended the lead 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 on 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 shown yellow and sent for 10 to cool off.

The visiting side were penalised again for a high tackle and Hardcastle again took the two points on offer.

Oldham tried in vain to set up a grandstand finish but their efforts were thwarted by the right edge defence of Dixon and Cameron Leeming.

MATCH STATS:

PLAYER RATINGS:

COUGARS: Aaronson 7; Dixon 8; Leeming 8; Barnes 6; Gabriel 7; Bowman 7; Hardcastle 8; Hallas 6; Cullimore 6; Bailey 7; Griffin 9; Rawlins 7; Emmett 7. Subs: Law 6; Conroy 6; Kenga 8; Moran 7.

OLDHAM: Hooley 5; Kershaw 7; McComb 5; Holmes 5; West 5; Crook 6; Hewitt 5; Joy 6; Owen 5; Spencer 5; Bridge 6; Briscoe 5; Bent 5. Subs: Cunningham 5; Davies 5; Jones 6; Nelmes 5.

COUGARS: Tries: Emmett (23). Goals: Hardcastle (5/5). Drop Goals: Hardcastle (32). Sin Bin: Rawlins (55 – Fighting)

OLDHAM: Tries: Hooley (14). Goals: Crook (2/2). Sin Bin: Jones (55 - Fighting)

ATTENDANCE: 510

REFEREE: Cameron Worsley (Castleford)