Super Rams cut
EVO-STIK WEST DIVISION PRESCOT CABLES .......... 0 RAMSBOTTOM UTD ....... 4 JON HASLAM
RA M S B O T TOM United made their second visit to Merseyside in four days, this time seeing off high flying Prescot Cables.
After a comfortable looking 3-0 win against Skelmersdale at the weekend the Rams arrived at Volair Park with just one change to their starting line as Jamie Rother replaced Anthony Donaldson as Chris Willcocks’ charges went in search of their fifth consecutive vic- tory against a Prescot outfit that had won all five of their home league games to date this season.
On a blustery evening the game began at a frantic pace with the hosts almost taking the lead in the opening minute when a strong run down the Rams right hand side gave leading scorer Almond a shot at goal but the effort narrowly crept wide of the far post to serve notice that the home side would provide a stern test to the visitors recent good run of form.
The opening exchanges of the contest suggested there may be goals and on nine minutes Ramsbottom United opened the goal scoring when a good passage of play through midfield lead to the ball being fed out to Nialle Rodney on the right edge of the Prescot penalty area, the tricky wide man cut inside full back Edgar before unleashing an explosive left footed effort that fizzed past Barnes in the home goal to register his fourth goal in five appearances and the Rams had taken the lead.
Moments later the lead was almost doubled when Nic Evangelinos cut inside and curled a superb effort towards the top corner before home keeper Barnes pulled off an excellent one handed flying save to keep the home side just one goal adrift.
With confidence coursing through the Rams team the home side were struggling to create any clear cut opportunities after their initial bright start, on twenty minutes the away side again almost added to their advantage when a Tom Kennedy corner perfectly found the head of Ryan Ellison but the ball ended up in Barnes midriff rather than the back of the net.
Ramsbottom United pushed forward confidently hoping to force home their superiority with the forward line causing Prescot numer- ous problems and with just over five minutes of the first half remaining the visitors doubled their lead when the tireless Ruben Jerome flicked the ball into the path of Evangelinos who outpaced his marker before sending a low shot underneath Barnes to give the recent arrival his second goal in two games.
As the referee blew his whistle the visitors were deservedly in front but had to be wary of a response from Prescot who wouldn’t want to surrender their 100 per cent home record without a battle.
Perhaps predictably the hosts began the second period with renewed vigour and won a number of corner kicks which the Rams defence repelled superbly protecting Sam Ashton in determined fashion. much to the frustration of the home faithful.
Then on 56 minutes, a moment that those present will remember for a long time.
The Rams won a free kick midway in their own half which goal keeper Sam Ashton struck with the sole intention of shooting towards goal and with the wind behind him the ball flew over his opposite number Barnes who was on the boundary of his own penalty area