EPIC LATE FINISH EARNS VITAL POINT
Maine Walder heads home a late, late, late equaliser for the Rams.
A pulsating game of football in Baltic conditions near neighbors Chadderton and Ramsbottom United took to the field on Tuesday evening.
The home side, in red. started well. Their aggressive press and rapid movement causing the Rams all kinds of problems and they were grateful to keeper Brad Rose on more than one occasion.
It looked as though they had weathered the storm, a sloppy pass saw a blue move give the ball away and a swift breakaway by the home side. A series of quick incisive interchanges saw Rose exposed as Lewis-Simon Byrne rounded him to tap in for a deserved opener.
Shaken, the Rams tried to get themselves back into the game with Richie Baker orchestrating Rams counterattacks but the recipient of several harsh tackles. For one of them the referee shaped to blow – but never did. As Rams stopped for the expected free kick, the quick-thinking Benito Lowe fired a shot from almost from the halfway line which sailed over Rose for a fine finish, but it was remarkable that it was not disallowed.
The vociferous home bench was delighted, seemingly intent on swaying every decision and could not believe their luck at two- nil up against the league leaders.
Rams tried to get themselves into some kind of rhythm and did fashion a chance when a shot from hit the inside of the post but ricochet away whilst another effort cleared the crossbar from Jacob Holland-Wilkinson. It was starting to look as though Rams luck was out.
Harvey Hayhurst had other ideas and took the initiative. On thirty-six minutes he advanced down the left before rolling the ball into the box for Luke Sephton who swiveled and found the far corner to bring Rams back into the game.
The home side went into the break two-one up and the Rams improved in the second half as they tried to get their passing game going with the bounce of the ball continually eluding them. On seventy-three minutes Jacob Holland-Wilkinson latched onto a through ball – but fired over the top.
It looked as though that miss might prove costly, especially as after a minute later Lewis-Simon Byrne was able to break at the other end, close in on Rose and then score -and surely seal the game.
Tempers seethed for much of the game with Baker eventually reacting and Chatterton’s substitute seeing red.
Rick Whittingham came on and produced well-weighted, accurate, through balls and Rams battled on but as the game entered injury time the cherished unbeaten run appeared to be coming to an end.
Oscar Radcliffe drove forwards and down the right before exchanged passes with Matt Dudley who produced a fine cross, headed into the far corner of the net by the still moving Radcliffe, to provide what looked an injury time consolidation.
An injury further extended added time which had surely elapsed as it entered its tenth minute.
Aaron Bennett drove in a corner from the Rams left. It was read by Maine Walder who headed back across keeper Joseph Oldham and in the far post to ignite an eruption of arms and noise from the ultras who leaped, as one, into the air for a most dramatic effect. Walder’s teammates rushed to share his joy – with management and fans alike celebrating the most dramatic of equalisers.
The whistle blew and the Rams who ran to their fans as if it was a victory. The team, up against it throughout, demonstrated resilience. Steve Wilkes’ side had bounced back from two goals down on two separate occasions – and this whilst dealing with seemingly endless adverse decisions.
As the Rams fans departed the ground, their reaction of delight indicated that they knew the result may prove so important come April.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Wallbank (Bennett), Barlow, Walder, Baker, Sephton, Dudley, Whyte (Whittingham), Holland-Wilkinson Not used: Braganca, Stacey, Ogunby
GOALS: Luke Sephton (36), Oscar Radcliffe (90+2), Maine Walder (90+11); Lewis Byrne (20, 75), Benito Lowe (24)
ATT: 215
