CAMARA STRIKE SENDS RAMS THROUGH
Kobe McWilliams congratulates Oumar Camara after his late strike sealed cup progression.
Oumar Camara’s 79th minute strike settled this Macron Cup tie on a cold and misty Tuesday evening in Ramsbottom.
The HWRS surface held up well considering it was mostly underwater just 48 hours earlier as Ramsbottom United fielded an experimental line- up, boasting eight changes from the team which started at West Didsbury on Saturday.
Manager Steve Wilkes was also forced to play striker Tom Hoyle in central defence after Maine Walder withdrew in the warm-up.
Unsurprisingly then, it was a tentative start from the home team with squad players getting valuable minutes in a competitive environment, and the first half display was unconvincing as the team in blue struggled to find its usual fluid patterns of play.
Rams did create isolated chances, not least after about 35 minutes, when Henri Ogunby was able to fire a shot from just inside the box which beat the keeper hit the inside of the post, and rolled across the line, before being cleared to safety.
Stockport, playing in red, kept their shape, but their prolific centre forward, Lucas Berry, who has notched an impressive 23 goals in 25 starts this season, came off injured prior to the break.
Half time came with a nil-nil scoreline, and the crowd wondering how the team would break down the visitors.
In the second half the Rams notably upped the tempo with more urgency evident in their passing – and did create a series of chances.
Stockport defended with resolve however and, with the prospect of penalties looming, may have been looking to them as the best means of progressing. Anticipating this, Steve Wilkes kept his powder dry with plenty of options available from a strong bench.
It was deployed to good effect in the latter stages, and it was the old hands who were to win the match.
On 78 minutes, Harvey Hayhurst, who had just come on, tore down the left-hand side, before delivering a teasing low cross into the box. Oumar Camara, his fellow substitute, read it, slid in to reach the ball with a somewhat scuffed connection – which was strong enough to beat Morgan Piper in goal and end up in the back of the net.
A scruffy finish very much in keeping with the match, to win a game which, in truth, will not long live in the memory of those supporters who braved the cold misty conditions to watch their team.
Manager Steve Wilkes was a happy man after the game: “To make eight changes from Saturday and win the game is a big pat on the back to the players that have been patient and waiting for the opportunity.
“We weren’t as fluent as we’ve been lately but cup games are all about winning and getting through to the next round, and that’s what we did.
“Huge credit to Chris the Groundsman for getting the game on after the pictures we saw of the ground on Sunday.”
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Ogunby, Khan (Hayhurst 76), Baker (Whyte 72), Meadowcroft, Hoyle, McWilliams, Tinker, Uppal (Camara 66), Turner (Radcliffe 76), Evans (Carter 85)
Att: 95
