Football-Betsy helps Oldham Athletic eliminate Manchester City in FA Cup |12 January 2005

Kevin Betsy played a part in Coca-Cola Football League One side Oldham Athletic’s 1-0 victory over Manchester City who are ninth in the 20-team Premier League.

As a reward for eliminating Manchester City, Oldham Athletic will play another Premiership team – 11th placed Bolton Wanderers – in a derby in the fourth round during the weekend of January 29 and 30.

At Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park last Saturday, Betsy went close with a lob early in the first half and in the second period, he lobbed England’s first choice goalkeeper David James but the ball floated just over the bar.

The Latics’ winner was scored by Scott Vernon with a simple finish after 40-year-old David Eyres squared the ball to him from Neil Kilkenny’s free-kick in the 14th minute.

Victory for Oldham Athletic against Manchester City brought double joy for Betsy for he put one over on his former manager Kevin Keagan. Former England international Keagan, previously the manager of Fulham, signed Betsy to the Premier League side’s roster in 1999.

Betsy, it is to note, moved to Oldham Athletic from Barnsley on September 8 last year. Monitored by Oldham Athletic’s manager Brian Talbot since playing for Woking as a youngster, the midfielder/forward made an immediate impact for his new team with a man-of-the-match performance which included a stunning goal on his debut against Hartlepool in a 3-2 win on September 11.

Betsy, 26 and who attracted interest from Hartlepool and Port Vale before signing for Oldham Atheltic, made 100 appearances for Barnsley after signing from Premier League side Fulham in March 2002. His contract with the Tykes of Barnsley was terminated by mutual consent.

Under former manager Joe Royle, Oldham Athletic toured Seychelles in 1993 and played against the country’s national side who were preparing for the Fourth Indian Ocean Islands Games.
Oldham Athletic are currently 15th on the 24-team Coca-Cola Football League One table.

G. G.