BACK ON TRACK WITH WIN AT GLOSSOP

Hayhurst the creator as Rams come back from early setback at Glossop North End.

Rammy return to winning ways in tough comeback win at Glossop North End. 

Glossop boasts a remarkable history, being, as a plaque announced, the smallest town to host first division football.  The sun shone but the opening minutes were fraught for the visitors, with the blue-shirted hosts full of running.

Rams, playing in red, saw a tentative move forwards backfire when a defensive clearance sent North End clear. Jacob Holland Wilkinson was forced into a foul which earned him a yellow card.  

Worse was to follow for the Rams as a free kick from nearly forty yards was driven across the box to be met by a stooping header by home captain, Oliver Parker, who directed the ball past Rose as the defence stood and watched.  Yet another soft early goal conceded on the road and one which brought the home supporters to life.

Buoyed by the early breakthrough, Glossop forced the pace and that very nearly added to their lead a few moments later fired in a shot which was well dealt with by Rose.

Gradually Ramsbottom found their footing and on seventeen minutes moved down the left. Tom McCann brought the ball forward before releasing the overlapping Hayhurst who continued the momentum before delivering a delicious cross met on the run by Luke Sephton with a trademark deft header across keeper Joseph Oldham and into the net for the equaliser. The goal, a thing of beauty from start to finish, saw Sephton finally got his reward after frustrating series of adverse decisions in recent weeks.

The half panned out with the action a mix of scrappy periods with endless throw intersperse with moments of sublime play as both teams went toe to toe.

The pacey Glossop front line posed a constant menace. Rose had to be vigilant and produced another astonishing reflex save, pushing a vicious and goal-bound dipper away to safety as half time approached.

So, level at 1-1 at half time, probably a fair reflection of play. Results filtering from elsewhere however were not favourable and Rams knew a draw, not usually a bad result, was not enough.

The visitors upped the tempo as the game restarted, without being too open at the back.  On fifty minutes, another move set up by the outstanding Hayhurst, saw him play a slick one two with Holland Wilkinson and then advance down the left before delivering a clever low cross into the box. It was met by Matt Dudley who slid in to steer the ball past Schofield and give the Rams a deserved 2-1 lead- to the delight of the noisy ultras behind.

The bustle continued in a fierce contest with patches of Rams passing play, interspersed with rudimentary defence, as they clung on to what they held. Longridge snatched a late equaliser in similar circumstances a couple of weeks earlier and the jeopardy was real.

In keeping with Rams’ recent travels, there was very nearly a sting in the tail. A late burst forwards by Glossop forced Rose to hurl himself low to the right to keep out a fierce goal bound drive. He bounced up to save the follow up as the clock ticked down.

Four minutes of injury time elapsed before the referee blew.  As the teams shook hands and went to the fans, three points gained. The bench and supporters alike, pleased their side showed courage and resilience.

At times the play wasn’t pretty but two moments of supreme quality, both instigated by the outstanding Hayhurst, will long live in the memory for a result which might be so important come April.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, McCann, Barlow, Walder, Baker, Walker, Dudley (Cross-Adair), Sephton (Bennett), Holland-Wilkinson (Stacey)   Not Used: Wallbank, Cummings

GOALS: Luke Sephton (17), Matt Dudley (51); Oliver Parker (8)

ATT: 296