By Helen Thompson

Last updated 13:18, Thursday, 25 September 2008

Town coach Dave Rotheram is backing his big friend Steve Deakin to take Oldham to NL2 Grand Final victory this weekend.

Rotheram: Lands back in the UK tomorrow

Deakin will be in the coaching hot seat as his Oldham side take on Doncaster in the final on Sunday at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington and Rotheram admits it will be a very close game.

“I don’t think there will be much in it,” said Rotheram. “Oldham had a good win last week and they were not far from Doncaster in their earlier play-off game.

“Oldham have confidence behind them with the win over Rochdale to reach the final and they are in form so I am backing them to win.”

Whoever wins the final will follow NL2 champions Gateshead and runners-up Barrow into division one next season.

Rotheram knows the credentials of both teams with Town facing them twice each during the season.

And he is hoping Deakin’s side can emulate Town, who actually beat Doncaster at Derwent Park back in May.

They lost the reverse fixture and also both games against Oldham later in the year.

The Roughyeds are out for revenge after Doncaster beat them in the initial play-off clash 32-30 at Boundary Park.

But they could be hit by the loss of half-back Neil Roden, who limped off in last week’s defeat of Rochdale with a pulled hamstring.

However, Doncaster coach Ellery Hanley has other ideas and is determined to bounce right back into NL1 at the first attempt.