Trophy dreams
FA TROPHY THIRD ROUND REPLAY AFC FYLDE ...................... 4 RAMSBOTTOM UTD ....... 1 DAMIAN BARLOW
RA M S B O T TOM United’s historymaking run the FA Trophy came to an end on Tuesday as they were outgunned by National League outfit AFC Fylde in the third round replay.
When a football manager doesn’t know where his team’s next goal is coming from, it is usually down to a loss of form and a time of scant reward in front of goal.
The same can definitely not be said for the current management team, with the playing staff netting 16 times in their last three outings with a healthy spread across the team in finding the back of the opposition net, most ●● ●● Jamie Rother in his usual all-action mode recently the five in last week’s epic against AFC Fylde.
It was the Rams who got this replay underway, but the hosts wasted no time in trying to assert their authority on proceedings, working the ball well down the left, with Hardy and Crawford combining well and the latter getting to the by-line and sending in the game’s first cross.
Ryan Ellison was on hand to deal with this and sent the ball away down Ramsbottom’s right for Iyrwah Gooden to pounce on and somewhat catch Tunnicliffe by surprise, who unceremoniously clattered the hopeful attacker to the ground.
With only minutes on the clock, that challenge brought the first booking.
The game started to settle down a little more as the clock progressed beyond the quarter hour mark, with both teams becoming more comfortable on the ball, and taking their time in finding a pass.
A couple of hesitant moments in the Fylde back line had the poten- tial to let the visitors in on goal but were eventually dealt with, and with a breakaway of their own down the right, should have made more of the opportunity but an over hit cross again let the recovering defenders off easier than it should.
It was becoming evident the away side were not going to be fazed or intimidated by their unfamiliar surroundings, and were forcing Fylde into several rushed mis-placed passes, much to the dis-pleasure of the home faithful.
When the ball broke to Gooden in the box, he teased it back to Eddie Moran who sent it wide for the no 7 to continue to ask questions of his markers who could only answer by illegally stopping him.
A rather wild attempt on goal from Moran which was greeted with “Oohs” from the away fans gathered behind the goal and ironic cheers from the home ones.
Gooden was certainly the game’s main threat and again he wriggled free from two Fylde defenders and headed towards the home side’s area, calmly played the ball in field for Jamie Rother to run on to and strike the ball which looked goalbound but unfortunately took a deflection off a relieved Byrne and Ramsbottom had to settle for a corner.
Evangelinos swung the ball towards the six-yard line and the un-marked Kieran Lugsden converted, sending the 234 away following into raptures and dreams that this could be another famous night in the club’s history.
The goal confounded the visitors belief that they could cause another upset, and as another misplaced pass was gifted to the impressive Gooden he was caught in more than two minds as he ran towards goal with Ruben Jerome up in support, a moment too long of indecision allowed Byrne to save his team from further blushes and quell the visi- ●● Ramsbottom players and management applaud the Rammy following at the final whistle tors hopes of an unassailable lead.
One person in particular who would be grateful for the half time whistle is Fylde full back Zaine Francis-Angol who Gooden has given the