Rampant Rams

BET VICTOR NPL NW DIVISION RAMSBOTTOM UTD ....... 5 MARSKE UTD................... 1

ADAM CLARK

THE Rams followed up their 5-0 midweek win against City of Liverpool with another emphatic performance against an in-form Marske United.

Chris Willcock made one change from Tuesday night’s 5-star performance against the City of Liverpool, Ben Hampson missing out through injury and replaced by Reuben Jerome, with Reece Fishwick dropping to right back as he did in the second half on Tuesday with Jerome regaining his position up front.

Marske United had the first chance of the afternoon inside two minutes, Andrew Stephenson played through a ball to Louis Johnson who was clean through but he put his shot wide.

The Rams soon went ahead on the 10-minute mark from the first corner of the afternoon. Tom Kennedy took it from the right and Richie Baker headed the ball down but it was inexplicably put into the back of the net by Marske’s Leon Scott.

Halfway through the half Marske had a couple of chances through Curtis Round, his first was dragged wide and the second was denied by the assistant’s offside flag.

Not long after that, the visitors had to make an enforced change as Andrew Stephenson had picked up an injury, he was replaced by Matthew Waters. The first caution of the game came just after the 25 minutes’ mark, Marske right back Andrew May was booked for a foul on Iyrwah Gooden as he raced down the wing, but the resulting free-kick was well cleared by the Marske defence.

Rammy doubled their lead just after the halfhour mark. Gooden made a great run down the right-wing, amd his cross was met at the far post by the unmarked Nic Evangelinos who slotted home for his seventh goal in his last eight games.

Marske clawed their way back three minutes later, as a corner from the left was headed home at the back post by Andrew May.

Iyrwah Gooden had a chance to make it 3-1 just before half time, but his shot from the left was parried wide by visiting keeper Jack Norton, whilst the last chance of the half fell to the visitors, only for Andrew May, free at the back post, unable to convert from two yards as he sliced his effort wide.

The second half started well for the Rams, as within a minutes a fine through ball found Reuben Jerome who rounded the keeper but he was brought down in the process leading to w yellow card for the custodian. Club captain Tom Kennedy stepped up to take the penalty and put it in the top left corner to give the hosts a two goal cushion.

Just two minutes later the Rams were 4-1 up, Richie Baker with a goal of the season so-far, his sizzling effort from 30 yards sailed into the top corner with the keeper unable to move.

Things went from bad to worse for the side from the north east as, on 64 minutes, their striker Louis Johnson was sent off for violent conduct after an altercation with Rams’ centre half Kelvin Lugsden.

Nic Evangelinos could have had his second of the afternoon just four minutes later, but he fired a Jamie Rother ball over the bar from close range.

Willcock then decided to make a triple substitution – Daniel Naidole, Josh Hmami & Karl Jones all came on in place of Eddie Moran, Iyrwah Gooden & Jamie Rother.

The Rams had a couple more chances before scoring their fifth, Jones had a shot go just wide of the right post and Jerome

●● Reece Fishwick clears his lines for Ramsbottom during the win against Marske had a shot cross the face of goal, but in the final minute, the Rams scored their fifth through Nic Evangelinos, converting at the far post after good work and a perfect low cross from Karl Jones.