HAYHURST AND DUDLEY TURN IT AROUND

Matt Dudley wheels away after slotting home at the far post from Richie Baker’s sumptuous cross.

Ramsbottom United traveled to Cheadle as manager Steve Wilkes was forced to ring the changes following the injuries to two centre halves on the opening day fixture,

This meant Maine Walder slotting in alongside Luke Barlow in the centre of defence allowing new signing Lucas Braganza to operate at left back.

The opening exchanges were rather alarming for the Rams as they were forced back. Cheadle, playing in red, took the initiative and their pressure was rewarded as early as the 7th minute as the visitors failed to clear a left-wing clock cross and a recycled ball was prodded low past an exposed Rose to give the home side a deserved lead.

The signs were that the Rams could be in for a torrid evening but there was a game changer after 15 minutes when a late challenge by George Lewis left Oscar Radcliffe writhing on the floor as the referee immediately red carded the Cheadle defender.

Fortunately, Radcliffe was soon back on his feet and the Rams, playing in blue, were able to find their passing rhythm, with newcomer Braganca covering very blade of grass as he allowed Richie Baker to take use the man advantage in expanding the game with diagonal balls which also sought out Hayhurst and Holland-Wilkinson.

Rams produced some attractive football as they continually stretched the reduced home team for the rest of the half without finding the equaliser. A couple of shots and promising positions were scuffed or went wide to leave the half time score at one nil to Cheadle.

Steve Wilkes, stuck with the same line up as the second half saw a transformation in intensity as the Rams went for the jugular. A series of high tempo attacks stretched Cheadle and left them struggling to fill the gaps as Rams fired in shots and looked as though they surely must score.

And that they did in the 57th minute as a corner from the right was headed goalwards and rebounded out to Hayhurst on the edge of the box. He hammered in a low shot which flew past a forest of legs and keeper Hodges to bring the Rams level and delight the supporters behind the goal.

The Rams then stepped up the pressure – not allowing Cheadle to break out from a stranglehold their hard pressing game imposed.

The traveling fans also enjoyed slick passing moves revolving around Walder, Walker and Baker and with Luke Barlow also happy to bring the ball out from the back their play was a delight to watch. The Rams were first any loose ball, and it looked as a matter of time before they would take the lead.

Richie Baker somewhat surprisingly blazed over from the edge of the box after being teed up but a few minutes later found himself in a similar situation. Rather than shooting he bent a clever ball into the box which was read by Matt Dudley steaming in at the far post. Dudley took the ball in his stride, planting it past Hodges to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Soon after Harvey Hayhurst felt aggrieved when he burst through before being felled rounding the Cheadle goalkeeper but, to everyone’s astonishment, the referee did not award the penalty.

The Rams took their foot off the accelerator after this and were quite content to play out in the closing minutes. They did create the odd chance but nothing incisive as when they were chasing the game. In the closing minutes of injury time Cheadle threw everything forwards and a venomous volley crashed goal wards was confidently held by Brad Rose.

The Rams were deserving winners with six points on the board from two tricky opening fixtures, a promising statement of intent from Steve Wilkes’s team.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Braganca, Walder, Barlow, Walker (Stacey), Hayhurst, Baker, L Sephton, Dudley, Holland-Wilkinson. Not used: Whittingham, Chortiw, Winstanley, Teague

GOALS: Harvey Hayhurst (57), Matt Dudley (72); Ben Lowe (7)

ATT: 180