CARL FORSTER hailed the response of his North Wales Crusaders’ players as they pushed title-chasing Oldham all the way.

It was a League One classic as Oldham recovered from a 24-8 deficit to gain a thrilling 25-24 success at Colwyn Bay’s Stadiwm CSM.

Crusaders produced a stirring display following on from a disappointing 18-10 loss to Midlands Hurricanes just six days earlier and head coach Forster told the club’s Facebook page: “I thought the response from last week, which was a real low last week, we can turn things around, back it up and we can show what we’re about.

“I just said to the boys, it’s strange saying it after a defeat, but that’s the standard.

“That’s the standard of our season.

“That’s where we want to go moving forward and it’s a tough one to swallow, but that’s sport.”

Crusaders made their mark early on against ambitious Oldham, with the North Wales side 12-8 ahead at the interval.

Ben Evans capitalised on great work from man of the match Dan Coates for Cru’s 10th minute try, which was converted by Ben Lane.

Things got even better for the hosts seven minutes later as Pat Ah Van made the most of an error for the next try, which was again converted.

Oldham cut the gap with tries from Jack Johnson and Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e prior to the interval, however Crusaders then came storming out of the blocks for the second half.

Just two minutes after the restart, Kieran Taylor’s try was converted by Lane, who also added the extras to Ollie Davies’ 51st minute score.

The hosts were 24-8 ahead at this stage, but Oldham turned things around with 17 unanswered points.

Logan Astley, Bailey Aldridge and Danny Craven grabbed the tries, with Craven kicking the match-winning drop goal in the last minute.

While he praised his players, Forster was critical of the officiating on the day.

“It’s purely sour grapes, isn’t it, when you get beat, blame the referee, but I’ve never been involved in a game like that,” he added.

“I thought it was absolute daylight robbery.

“I thought in the back end, last 15 minutes, it was just no six agains for the first 65 minutes, 70 minutes.

“I thought we should have had a lot, but our back-field carried the ball real well and it was just six agains and penalties until Oldham scored.

“They put one short, give a try. Same again, go down the other end, six agains and that was daylight robbery, and when Oldham players, fans, staff, they’re all coming up to you saying the best team lost.

“Even they said you absolutely got robbed. That’s what we’re battling against at the minute.

“It will just be another apology from the above and that will be the fourth one this year and we move on with no points.”

The match concluded a hectic 24 hours for North Wales, following on from the announcement that Crusaders had reached an agreement with Elkaleh LLC of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the group to acquire a majority shareholding of the club, subject to the approval of the Rugby Football League.

Crusaders are next in action on June 16 when they welcome Workington Town.