Mariners dominant in lacklustre Rammy display

NORTH WEST COUNTIES LEAGUE

WILL PLACE

DOMINANT Marine took all three points from a lacklustre Ramsbottom side on Tuesday night.

The Harry Williams Riverside Stadium welcomed back their supporters for their first home game of the new campaign, after a long time without the fans through the gates.

Things felt as if they had returned to normality and the home crowd were hoping for a good performance from the Rams.

Despite the hopes of the fans, the reality was that this would be a tough test for the hosts, with Marine being an excellent outfit.

The away side started the stronger of the two, pressing high with great intent, testing Ollie Martin with a fantastic curling effort in the first minute. The visitors continued to apply the pressure, not giving Rammy any time on the ball and not allowing them to create anything of any real danger in the attacking third.

Marine found themselves through on goal again but their attack was halted from an on-rushing Martin who committed a tactical foul just on the edge of the 18-yard box, picking up the first booking of the evening, with many believing he was very lucky to stay on the pitch as the referee showed him a yellow card.

The visitors found the breakthrough on the cusp of half-time with a lovely effort struck into the bottom right corner by Ben Hughes.

Rammy started the second half with more energy but their momentum was soon lost when Marine grabbed their second goal of the night through Neil Kengni, who whipped the ball into the far corner, not giving the Rams number one any chance. The confidence of the away side subsequently continued to grow and they kept the pressure on Rammy, therefore, forcing them into making an array of mistakes across the pitch.

A couple of secondhalf substitutions for Ramsbottom were unable to make the desired change and the continued pressure from Marine resulted in the third being added late on by their skipper Niall Cummins. Ultimately the visitors were just too good for the hosts and they ran out deservedly 3-0 winners. Ramsbottom will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and give their season a kick start at the weekend when they travel up to Barnoldswick Town in the FA Cup.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Martin, Collinge, Kennedy, Waldron, Hall (Earps 65), Cooper, Rouse, Rother (Murphy 40), Rainford ( Thompson 57), Baker, Abadaki

UNUSED SUBS: Glover & O’Brien