Turnaround offers food for thought

EVO-STIK WEST RAMSBOTTOM ............ 2 CHASETOWN ............... 2 AARON BENSON A NEW era began at the HWRS as new manager Chris Willcock took his place in the dugout after replacing Lancasterbound Mark Fell.

Wilcock made four changes to the side held at Kendal a week previous. Jack Higgs, Tom Brooks, Nathan Brown and Curtis Jones were replaced by Ryan Ellison and new signings Khalil Osi-Efa, Ruben Jerome and – returning to the HWRS – midfielder Eddie Moran.

The Rams began the new era on the front and Chasetown, making their first ever visit to the HWRS, were under the cosh from the word go.

The Rams had an early sight at goal as early as the third minute with Jerome Wright almost charging down a loose Chasetown backpass.

The first proper chance for the Rams came on twelve minutes when Jerome beat the offside trap to find himself through on goal one on one with Chasetown keeper Curtis Pond, but It wasn’t the perfect start for Jerome as the shot was expertly saved by Pond. From the corner, Wright could only fire wide.

However, the dominance soon payed off as the home side were ahead minutes later. Moran let fly from distance yet Pond could only turn the ball out for a corner.

Luke Thompson headed higher than anyone in the box to send the ball past Pond in the Chasetown net, handing Rammy a deserved lead on the fifteen minute mark.

It should have been two less than ten minutes later, but Lee Gaskell’s shot on the turn was comfortably saved.

Vistors Chasetown were living dangerously and their afternoon was made far worse when Gaskell was brought down in the box. Referee Darren Brown pointed to the spot and Wright converted with a finish straight down the middle to give Rammy a seemingly healthy lead.

But Chasetown came roaring back in the thirty-eighth minute with a goal of their own.

George Cater turned the ball home from a goalmouth scramble, the team in red going into half time back in the game.

The second half began role reversal from the first.

Chasetown spent the majority of the half on top, yet Jerome could have restored Rammy’s two-goal cushion midway through the half, only to be denied by Pond.

The final fifteen minutes saw a charge at goal by Chasetown and brought a wonderful array of saves from Sam Ashton. Sub Muzzy Nduna was brilliantly denied by Ashton at point blank range.

Then minutes later Jonathan Beaumont had a header which also couldn’t beat Ashton.

Cater thought he had levelled the scores only moments later, but again another fine stop from Ashton was able to keep the Rams at a one goal advantage.

However Chasetown’s dominance soon prevailed as Rammy threw away the lead. Another mix up in the Ramsbottom goal area concluded with Cater firing home a deserved leveller.

This was one of those “games of two halves”.

The Rams looked hungry and adventurous during a first half that could have yielded a bigger advantage, yet they appeared to tire as the game wore on allowing a resurgent visiting side to dictate the pace, and their equaliser, late as it was, was no more than their efforts deserved.

An entertaining game, but one which will give new manager Chris Willcock much to think about.