‘Today we were ruthless’ — Robson double as Oldham thrash Cheltenham for first league win since August
Sunday 18 October 2026 · By Patrick Ollerenshaw
Oldham Athletic’s long wait for a league win is over. Micky Mellon’s side beat Cheltenham Town 4–1 at Boundary Park on Saturday. Left-back Jamie Robson, who had not scored since joining in the summer of 2025, got two of the goals.
Oldham had scored only one goal in their previous four league games, according to PA, but they were 3–0 up inside 41 minutes. Calum Kavanagh opened the scoring in the 19th minute with his fifth goal of the season. Robson then glanced in a corner at the far post, the Oldham Times reported. Favour Fawunmi finished a quick counter-attack, started by Kane Drummond deep in his own half, to make it three.
Cheltenham pulled one back through Freddy Willcox in first-half stoppage time, and Mat Hudson made several good saves after the break. Fawunmi hit the inside of the post from distance. In the 81st minute, Robson rounded off the win with a shot across Wyll Stanway into the bottom corner.
Mellon had been asking for this. “We’ve been creating chances. I’ve been saying we need to be clinical - today we were ruthless,” he told PA. “Football is all about winning, and when you do that it changes the world. I have been telling the players a goal changes the world.”
He was full of praise for Fawunmi, the 20-year-old Stoke City loanee, who scored, made two goals and hit the post. “He was brilliant and he’s such a talented lad. We’re pleased to have him here,” Mellon said. Mellon felt Fawunmi and Drummond had looked “jaded” a few weeks earlier. “Today they looked fresh and full of passion for the game,” he said. Both were among three changes to the starting line-up, along with Will Sutton.
Mellon also wants more. “We know what we need to do better and we delivered on a lot of that today, but there’s still more to come. But that’s exciting,” he told the Oldham Times. He wants more stamina from his wide men and forwards, and better work without the ball.
The win ended a six-game winless league run and capped a three-game week at Boundary Park. It followed a goalless draw with Accrington Stanley the previous weekend. The crowd was 6,361, including 203 from Cheltenham.
Oldham are 19th on 11 points from ten games. Only four points separate them from seventh place. The next two tests are away against unbeaten sides. Oldham visit Walsall on Tuesday 20 October (7.45pm BST). Walsall have drawn seven of their ten league games and lost none. They then travel to Barnet, who are second with two games in hand, on Saturday 24 October (3pm BST).
Bottom club Crawley Town visit Boundary Park on Saturday 31 October (3pm GMT). Oldham’s rearranged game at Northampton Town is on Tuesday 3 November (7.45pm GMT).
After a run of near misses, Mellon finally got the goals his side’s play deserved. The challenge now is to take that form on the road.
Boundary Park has been home to Oldham Athletic since 1904. It is a traditional four-sided English ground on Furtherwood Road, Oldham, OL1 2PA, with an all-seated capacity of around 13,500. Visiting supporters are almost always housed in the Chadderton Road End (the Chaddy End), behind the west goal. Allocations vary by fixture but commonly sit between about 1,600 and 3,500.
The ground is famous for being one of the coldest and windiest in the country — “Ice Station Zebra” is the old nickname for a reason. Even in early autumn, bring a coat, hat and layers. There is little shelter once you are in your seat, and the exposed hillside setting funnels the weather straight across the pitch.
Away turnstiles are at the Chadderton Road End. Buy tickets in advance through your club or Oldham’s away page; paying on the day is often several pounds dearer and cash turnstiles can be limited. Typical published away prices in recent seasons have been around £18–£20 for adults when bought ahead, with concessions and juniors cheaper. Stewards search bags on entry. The stadium is all-seater and no-smoking; re-entry is not allowed if you leave.
Views from the Chaddy End are generally decent for this level: you sit close to the pitch behind the goal. Facilities are functional rather than plush. The concourse has kiosks for pies, burgers, chips, hot drinks and usually alcohol, with prices that travelling fans tend to rate as fair. Contactless payment is widely used. Programmes are sold outside and from a small office near the Main Stand, typically around £3.
By car the ground sits just off the A627(M) / Chadderton Way, handy from the M60 and M62. Sat-nav: OL1 2PA. On-site parking is mainly for home permits. Visiting supporters are directed to the Royal Oldham Hospital car parks off Westhulme Way (around OL1 2PH / OL1 2BA), a short walk, usually about £5 on matchdays — check the club site for any temporary road closures, including recent Sheepfoot Lane changes. Street parking nearby is often coned. Coaches usually drop by the away end.
By public transport, Metrolink is the simplest route from Manchester. Westwood stop is the closest useful halt, about a 20-minute walk; trams from Victoria take roughly 20 minutes. Mills Hill rail station is much further on foot. Allow extra time after the match when the network is busy.
Away-friendly pubs include Clayton Green Brewers Fayre at Westwood Leisure Park (very close), the Greyhound Inn on Holden Fold Lane, and the Spring Vale on Burnley Street. The Rifle Range is another option used by travelling fans. Dress codes and kick-off times can affect who is welcome, so a quick check on the day helps.
The other three stands are home: the two-tier Main Stand on the hospital/south side (ticket office, offices and older seating with some pillars), the Jimmy Frizzell Stand (Rochdale Road End) behind the east goal, which includes family seating, and the modern Joe Royle Stand on the north side, opened in 2014, with hospitality, boxes and GloGym above. Wheelchair and ambulant spaces exist in several stands, including pitch-level spots in the away end; contact both clubs in advance if you need accessible seating or parking.
Arrive early, wrap up, and you will find a compact, characterful ground rather than a bowl. Boundary Park is not luxurious, but it is easy to read, cheap enough to eat in, and close enough to the action that a decent away following can be heard. Check oldhamathletic.co.uk on the morning of the game for last-minute parking or turnstile notes, then enjoy the trip.