Barring a late Crusaders consolation try, this was another resolute Roughyeds defensive performance, as Sean Long’s men emerged 32-6 victors in BetFred League One.

All coaches dream of making their home stadium a hard place to come to, a fortress, and it seems like Long has got that nailed with Oldham.

Oldham’s 100-per-cent win record at Boundary Park this season looked to be under threat for huge periods in the first half, but somehow it was them leading 16-0 at half time.

That is a testament to Roughyeds’ resolute defence, who have conceded less than nine points a game, on average, all season.

It was a much-changed side, too, with hooker Matty Wildie in the halves; loose-forward Elijah Taylor in his place, and the top try scorer across all divisions, Cian Tyrer, dropped.

That was a bold decision from the Roughyeds boss, who opted for new boy Kieran Dixon ahead of Tyrer - and at first it looked to have backfired.

Dixon’s first involvement was the kick off, which sailed aimlessly out of play, putting Roughyeds on the backfoot immediately.

But he grew into the game, as he scored a sublime debut try in front of 1,270 spectators.

Oldham conceded four goalline drop-outs in the opening 10 minutes, with Crusaders smelling blood after that overhit kick off.

Despite a number of errors, they kept North Wales at bay and the very moment Crusaders came up with a mistake of their own, ruthless Oldham capitalised.

Direct from the scrum, after former Oldham man Patrick Ah Van knocked-on close to his line, it was Ben O’Keefe who wriggled free of Ewan Smith for the first try.

Just before half time, Oldham doubled their score with a ‘try of the season. contender.

On the last tackle, and nowhere near try-scoring territory, Roughyeds passed it around. The ball must have gone through all 13 players, before it ended in the hands of Josh Johnson.

Prop Johnson, probably the last person you’d want kicking, hammered a speculative ball up in the air which winger Dixon, somehow, controlled with his feet beautifully as he directed the ball towards the goal - something England’s Jude Bellingham would have been proud of. He then collected the ball and scored a try under the posts.

A Bailey Aldridge line-break, barely a minute later, paved the way for Oldham’s third with Wildie looping a pass out left as Dixon scored his second.

Mo Agoro bagged a brace on his return from injury in the second half, with Brad Gallagher - drafted in at the last minute with Pat Moran out with a back injury - also adding to Roughyeds’ score.

Chris Barratt spoiled the party somewhat as he scored late on - a just reward, really, for the visitors’ efforts across the 80 minutes.

There was a post-hooter red card shown for Johnson after an alleged headbutt during a post-match fracas.

Next up for Oldham is Keighley - who have just got rid of head coach Matt Foster in controversial circumstances - and after Sunday’s showing, after all that defending, Roughyeds will be buoyed.

Oldham: Laulu-Togaga’e; Agoro, O’Keefe, J Turner, Dixon; Wildie, Astley; Farnworth, Taylor, J Chapelhow, Wardle, Hirst, Moran. Substitutes: Aldridge, T Chapelhow, Josh Johnson, Gallagher (all used); 18th man: Gallagher.

North Wales: Holmes; Ah Van, Taylor, Smith, Thewlis; Coates, Moss; Costello, Baldwin, Oakley, Davies, Forster. Substitutes: Carr, Baker, Bushell, Evans (all used). 18th man: Bloxham

Referee: Ryan Cox.

Attendance: 1,270.