Lowry finale for Red Rose ace Croft
CRICKET CHRIS OSTICK FORMER Lancashire captain Steven Croft rounds off his testimonial year with a winter spectacular next month.
Red Rose legends and players past and present – as well as stand- up comedian Justin Moorhouse – will be joining the allrounder at the Lowry Hotel on Saturday, November 17 for a glittering finale to the year.
Money raised at the event – which includes a threecourse fine dining menu and live music courtesy of the DB’s - will go towards Croft’s nominated charities, Brian House Children’s Hospice and the PCA Benevolent Fund.
“It’s been an eventful year and one that I’m incredibly grateful for,” said Croft, who captained Lancashire to the 2015 NatWest T20 Blast. “To be awarded a testimonial year by your county is a huge privilege and I feel proud to be representing Lancashire both on the field and through my testimonial events.
“I’m especially grateful for all the support I’ve received over the past few months, both personally and for my chosen charities. I can’t think of a better way of rounding off the year and kick starting the festive season.”
Tickets for he event are priced at £60, which includes arrival drink, three-course meal, tea, coffee and petit fours. For more information or to make a booking, please contact stevencroft testimonial2018@ gmail.com ●● Ramsbottom’s Jamie Rother chases the ball watched by Nialle Rodney and Tony Donaldson ●● Ruben Jerome in action against Frickley FRICKLEY ATHLETIC RAMSBOTTOM UTD JON HASLAM
W0 3 EST Yorkshire was the destination on Saturday afternoon as Ramsbottom United took a break from league action to take on a Frickley side in an intriguing looking FA Trophy tie at the Westfield Lane Stadium.
With the departure of leading scorer Jerome Wright to Hyde United in the lead up to the match the visitors starting eleven showed three alterations from the victory against Glossop seven days earlier with Luke Thompson, Jamie Rother and latest new recruit Antony Donaldson replacing the aforementioned Wright, Joel Bembo-Leto and the injured Jack Higgs respectively.
It would be the Rams that would make the ideal start to the contest when on just seven minutes Rother sprayed a pass out to the right wing to Nialle Rodney who skilfully skipped past Algar before the wide man’s tantalising low ball across the six yard box was diverted past home keeper Warhurst by the lunging Jameel Ible and into the back of the net to give the away side an early boost.
The early goal was no more than the visitors deserved as they dominated the opening twenty minutes with the Rams attacking players proving a headache for the Frickley defence as they struggled to contain the rampant visitors.
Firstly Ruben Jerome fired a shot just off target before superb link up play again gave Rodney a chance to test the home keeper but his effort was gathered by the home stopper.
The one way feel of the contest in the Rams favour continued when Nic Evangelinos headed straight at Warhurst from a superb Kyle Jacobs cross before the same player shot narrowly wide of the target minutes later as the side from Lancashire dictated the first quarter of the contest.
Frickley were showing little sign of being the same attacking threat that had seen the home outfit score thirteen goals in their last four outings but did begin to offer something more as the first half wore on but with the Rams back four in fine form, goal keeper Sam Ashton was being well protected and remained largely untroubled until the final notable action of the first half when a Szanto free kick from 25 yards out brought a diving save from the visiting custodian and the away side led by a single goal at the break.
On a windy and bitterly cold afternoon in the White Rose county, the second period resumed with the Frickley making two early substitutions as they looked to alter the complexion of the match but it would be the Rams that almost doubled their advantage in the opening minutes of the half when Jerome fired over when well placed.
With the home side let off the hook, Frickley then began to enjoy their best period of the match and for a ten minute period the Rams had to be at their robust best from a defensive perspective with Rowe having a header scrambled off the line before Ashton made a couple of flying saves from Smith and Hazel to prevent the home side restoring parity.
As the hour mark ticked by Ramsbottom United had repelled everything that the hosts had thrown at them as the defensive resilience shown under Chris Willcock is beginning to become evident whilst the lively attacking trio of Jerome, Evangelinos and Rodney were causing the home defence ●● Nialle Rodney turns away to celebrate scoring the Rams second some concerns on the counter attack.
The Rams made their first change of the contest with Khalil Osi-Efa replacing the excellent Jamie Rother in midfield just after the hour point as the encounter was still finely poised with Frickley having their most sustained period of attacking play but the away team could and perhaps should have doubled their lead when Jerome shot wide of the