BELOW PAR RAMS SLIP TO DEFEAT
No way through as Richie Baker tries his luck from distance.
Ramsbottom United and their fans travelled to South Manchester on Tuesday for the rearranged game after abandoned to torrential rain a couple of weeks ago.
A tentative opening quarter so the Rams just about holding their own against an impressive Wythenshawe side, pressing from the front and allowed the visitors no time to get their passing game going.
The home side proved particularly effective from corners which became increasingly dangerous from the Rams left and flashed around the box, often being only half cleared. The home side astutely played for them, gaining around a half dozen during the half as a sense of siege developed.
The Rams were to be grateful for the presence of Andy Teague whose head appeared time after time in the right place to avert danger and Rams were fortunate to reach the half time with the score at nil nil.
As the match resumed the Rams started to look a little bit better as the aimless punts of the first half gave way to intricate ground level moves and drove the team forwards.
This proved illusory as, after fifty-one minutes, the home side were awarded yet another corner on their right. This time there was no reprieve and no marking as Princewill Anuniru was left in space to calmly head home.
Things went from bad to worse. Minutes later a free kick in a dangerous position was driven into the box by captain Steven Hewitt and nodded past Rose by the unmarked Eoin Charles in similar style to the first.
The home team continued to create chances. Brad Rose was forced to deal with a vicious spinning and slippery ball which he batted around like a hot potato before clawing it off the line away. The referee initially gave a goal, leading to a roar of approval from the crowd, before correctly being overruled by the linesman.
A long-range spinning free kick also struck the base of the post with Rams defence in disarray the Ammies followed up with another attack leading to their hitting the crossbar as they threatened to run riot.
Rams stumbled around the pitch like a team of strangers – chasing shadows with Wythenshawe first to every ball.
It was perhaps a time for experience to make itself felt, but frustration was compounded when Rick Whittingham reacted to the tackle on the ground and shown a red card.
The harsh decision provoked a melee involving the backroom staff during which Rams manager Steve Wilkes was also sent off as the evening threatened to disintegrate.
Tempers calmed and the game eventually resumed. Rams were to be grateful for Brad Rose’s bravery as twice the flag remained down as two breakaways. The exposed Rose got down to produce excellent saves on both occasions to prevent further pain.
The home side’s substitutes and fresh legs towards the end were content to see the match out. For the visitors Jacob Holland- Wilkinson and Luke Sephton were feeding on scraps with aimless hit and hope non- tactics offering little with which to work.
Wythenshawe showed they are a good side and deserved their win.
The Rams were perhaps lucky to end up with a two nil defeat and can only hope that it was a one off. The long unbeaten run was ended by the better team and, more worryingly, Rams shipped three against Chadderton following two against Didsbury before tonight’s sobering defeat. They need to regroup and remember they are in essence a ground passing side, but a style that needs to be fought for.
Rams fans will hope that there’s no repetition of tonight’s no-show as the season unfolds.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst (Bennett), Teague, Barlow, Walder, Baker, Sephton, Dudley (Whyte), Whittingham, Holland-Wilkinson Not used: Wallbank, Stacey, Ogunby
GOALS: Princewill Anuniru (51), Eoin Charles (58)
ATT: 404
