VASE RUN ENDS IN THE MUD
A dejected Luke Sephton after a late Rams attack was thwarted.
Ramsbottom United took a break from the action on Saturday as they welcomed neighbours Nelson to an eagerly anticipated third round tie of the prestigious FA Vase.
Played in teeming rain with the ever-present risk of abandonment, the first half was a tentative affair with players struggling to keep their footing on the difficult pitch and providing few clear-cut chances.
The match developed into something of a carbon copy of Tuesday’s encounter at Wythenshawe as the home team struggled to find their rhythm and weight of pass in admittedly difficult conditions. Playing in bright yellow Nelson won a series of corners when they went forwards and though Rams cleared them, many led to the ball being recycled around the home box to keep the pressure on as the visitors impressed.
In the closing minutes of the first half Ramsbottom enjoyed their most promising spell as they themselves went forwards. Hayhurst looked lively down the left-hand side as he tried to drive the home side forwards and Nelson may have been happier to go in at the break at nil nil.
With rain still pouring the match resumed and the Rams fashioned two excellent chances. The first, from a corner, found centre-half Luke Barlow in space and he found his footing before firing a powerful shot which flashed over the bar and then, minutes later, an even better opportunity fell to striker Luke Sephton who fired in a fierce shot which just cleared the crossbar with the fans behind the goal poised to celebrate.
The sucker punch duly followed. Nelson absorbed the pressure and a poor clearance from the back was seized on as they moved the ball down their left to find space in the box where Ryan Bolton thrashed it high past Brad Rose into the roof of the net.
The visitors deserved the breakthrough, having kept their shape and expertly marshalled by popular ex-Ram Billy Priestley. Nelson seemed undaunted by the occasion and, for them, even better was to follow.
A back pass – a risky endeavour in these conditions – slowed up leading to goalkeeper Rose having to charge from his goal line and fell a Nelson striker. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot where Finlay Devenney calmly dispatched the ball past Rose to give the visitors a comfortable two nil lead.
Incessant rain led to the pitch starting to resemble something of a skating rink. Nelson adapted more effectively than the Rams and were good value for a third goal which arrived on seventy-two minutes although in a farcical manner.
A regulation back pass held up in the mud allowing James Kemp to pounce and round stranded keeper Rose and then, still in abundant space, tap it into the unguarded goal.
Substitutions followed, with Steve Wilkes adopting a rudimentary Plan B with Teague being pushed into a central striking role in an attempt to claw something back – although it would have been no more than a consolation by this stage.
Mud bespattered Nelson, whose vivid yellow kits resembled something from a swamp movie by now, could have added to their tally while the dispirited Rams seemed to run out of ideas. They looked like a shadow of the scintillating team of eleven consecutive victories a few short weeks ago.
Nelson celebrated with their fans as the home side trudged off somewhat disconsolately. It will need something quickly to reverse the slump as the Rams travel to improving Glossop for a tricky fixture on Tuesday evening. With over fifty points on the board Rams know they are good side and the game offers a chance to go out and prove it.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe (Wallbank), Hayhurst, Teague, Barlow, Walder, Baker, Whittingham (Walker), Dudley (Bennett), Sephton, Holland-Wilkinson Not used: Stacey, Ogunby
GOALS: Ryan Bolton (55), Fin Devenney (65 pen), James Kemp (72)
ATT: 239
