Enthralling cup clash sees rivals share six

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND RAMSBOTTOM UTD ....... 3 WINSFORD UTD .............. 3 JON HASLAM THIS thrilling FA Cup tie saw six goals shared between a Ramsbottom United side that had won both league matches to date and a Winsford United outfit that sat eighth in the NWCL on a sun kissed afternoon at The Riverside.

The Rams lined up with just a single alteration from the midweek victory at Pickering with Karl Jones getting his first start and the recent arrival got the goal laden contest underway on just three minutes when Ruben Jerome laid the ball to the forward and despite having his initial effort blocked the ball fell kindly to the frontman and the well struck shot flew past Rigby to give the hosts the ideal start.

Winsford responded positively to the early setback by levelling matters just shy of the ten minute mark when a long ball forward caught out the home sides rearguard and ex Rams player Sam Madeley came back to haunt his former club by sliding it to convert an inviting cross for his sixth goal of the campaign.

The goals continued to flow and the hosts edged back in front almost immediately after the kick off when a through ball found speedster Irywah Gooden who got beyond his marker and just inside the penalty area was tripped and referee Young pointed to the spot, with usual penalty taker Nic Evangelinos on the bench up stepped Ruben Jerome to confidently convert the spot kick to register the frontmans third goal in three appearances.

In a topsy turvy encounter the home sides lead lasted until the sixteenth minute when another long ball caught out the Rams defence and with Tom Stewart off his line Winsford forward David Short was given the opportunity to lob the home stopper which he executed superbly from 25 yards to bring the sides level at two goals apiece.

As the half hour was reached a potentially pivotal moment occurred when a robust challenge between Jamie Rother and Obi Anoruo ended with referee Young deciding that the tackle was worthy of a red card and for the second time in two home fixtures this season the opposition has been reduced to ten men prior to half time.

With a man advantage Ramsbottom United looked to take control of an entertaining cup tie and almost regained the lead twice in a short period of time, firstly Mason Fawns sent in a cross which Irywah Gooden headed over Rigby but unfortunately clipped the top of the crossbar before a patient move down the left wing led to Ruben Jerome laying the ball back to Jamie Rother whose low drive narrowly missed the target.

As the first forty five minutes was almost completed the Rams grabbed the fifth goal of an absorbing encounter when a low drive from Karl Jones brought a fine save from visiting custodian Rigby but the parried effort felt kindly to Ruben Jerome who converted to continue his encouraging goal filled start to the campaign and the hosts regained their goal advantage.

A point worthy of note is that Ramsbottom United last tasted victory in an FA Cup tie back on the 17th September 2013 when defeating a