Moran’s moment in Integro
INTEGRO LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND RAMSBOTTOM ................ 3 STALYBRIDGE C.............. 0 JON HASLAM RAMSBOTTOM United deservedly progressed to the next round of the Integro League Cup with a comprehensive victory against Stalybridge in a rearranged game after the original encounter was abandoned three weeks earlier.
The Rams made the ideal start on seven minutes when a long throw fell to Eddie Moran on the edge of the penalty area before the midfielder unleashed a powerful low shot into the corner of the net to give the home side an early advantage and register Moran’s first goal in two years.
The hosts began the contest on the front foot with Sam Heathcote again showing his versatility by playing as a centre forward and showing some excellent touches whilst offering the Rams a focal point for their attacks.
Stalybridge didn’t offer too much in the way of an attacking threat until home keeper Danny Taberner rushed from his goal before losing his footing but the danger was cleared by the home defence before a Celtic attacker could pounce.
A second goal arrived for Ramsbottom on 37 minutes when a goal kick from Taberner was superbly controlled by Ben Richardson who powered into the Stalybridge penalty box before drilling the ball towards the far post and despite a vain attempt from the sliding Killock the ball found its way past Celtic keeper Slinn.
The home side could have added to their advantage when a superb turn and shot from Heathcote brought a fine save from Slinn.
The Rams remained in control of the match with the Stalybridge forward line unable to penetrate the excellent home defence with Brad Roscoe at his commanding best alongside the impressive Thompson with full backs Stott and Brownhill giving little encouragement to the visiting wide players.
The match was over as a contest with 20 minutes remaining when the hosts scored their third goal of the evening when a strong run from Jerome Wright took him past Cowley before finding the corner of the Stalybridge net with a superbly placed shot. ●● Sam Heathcote’s joy at opening the scoring ALTRINCHAM .................. 4 RAMSBOTTOM ................ 1 JON HASLAM
RA M S B O T TOM United exited the FA Trophy after being defeated by the highest ranked team currently in the competition when they visited Moss Lane on Saturday.
The afternoon started in the best possible way for the Rams when with just 90 seconds on the clock home keeper Thompson’s clearance hit the back of his own defender Bembo-Leto before the ball fell to ex Altrincham player Sam Heathcote who finished superbly with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area to give the visitors the lead.
Indeed this gave the Rams a confidence boost as within the opening ten minutes Greg Daniels turned well and tested Thompson whilst Luke Thompson headed over from a Daniels corner as the away side started the brighter team with the home team looking uncertain in defence.
Altrincham began to get a foothold in the contest and the equaliser arrived just after the quarter hour mark when former Ram Jordan Hulme headed in an inswinging corner from Johnston to level matters.
The pattern of the match turned in favour of Altrincham after the goal as visiting keeper Danny Taberner was called into action to make three excellent saves to keep the scores level.
Sadly for the Rams they would suffer at the hands of Hulme again on 34 minutes when another inswinging corner found the forward with time and space before he turned and fired into the top corner of the net to give the home side the advantage.
It was the visitors that ended the half positively when a Heathcote free kick forced Thompson into a smart save low down by the post as the half ended with Ramsbottom trailing 2-1.
With no changes at the interval it took the hosts less than five minutes to increase their lead as Hulme and the impressive Johnston exchanged passes before the former shot at goal before the ball took a wicked deflection before sailing past a helpless Taberner to give Hulme his hat trick against his former side.
The Rams replaced Rother with Meaney as they looked for a way back into the contest but Altrincham showed why they are top of their league with an authoritative per- formance throughout the second half while playing some eye catching football with Harrop and Poole particularly impressing.
Heathcote made way for Regan Jarrett for the Rams while hat trick hero Hulme departed to a rapturous reception from the majority of a healthy crowd as the match had turned into a version of the Ex factor with all 4 goals being scored by former players of their respective teams.
A number of yellow cards punctuated the last quarter of the encounter as Altrincham controlled the majority of the possession impressively.
Home keeper Thompson saw a Phil Dean effort deflected over his crossbar whilst a Jerome Wright shot threatened the home goal as the Rams showed a ●● Luke Thompson breaking up an Altrincham attack
‘The trophy run has been good, and we now need to rectify our league away form’
willingness to battle for each other which is a point of note that shouldn’t be ignored.
A fourth goal arrived for Altrincham with five minutes remaining when a speculative 20 yard shot from Poole found its way