Hill double in much needed win
Gareth Hill scored his 7th and 8th of the season as the Rams ran out 4-1 winners.
Gareth Hill’s brace, his 7th and 8th goals of the season, bookended strikes from Oscar Radcliffe and Terry Cummings as the Rams turned on the style in the second half against AFC Liverpool at the HWRS on Saturday.
Ramsbottom faced AFC Liverpool on Saturday, having gained just five points from five league games, squandering winning positions away from home that could have garnered another eight. This represented a good opportunity against a side, playing in all red, struggling for both goals and points, problems epitomised by only filling three berths on the substitutes bench.
Playing in traditional blue, the Rams made a dream start as Charlie Cox rounded off a marauding run down the right-hand side by Oscar Radcliffe, by returning the cross which was met by a majestic header from Gareth Hill. Hill used its pace to guide the ball back past Campbell, in the Liverpool goal, and into corner of the net to the delight of a rather meagre home crowd.
The home side tried to build on their lead with a series of constructive moves, but gradually, the visitors started to put moves together themselves with the home side beginning to sit deeper, inviting pressure and amplifying the effect with defensive mistakes. AFC’s Christopher Happi-Fankama began creating problems for Owen Beamon and Rams hearts were in their mouths as he appeared to be upended in the box. Not for the only time, Referee Blaney gave the decision the home team’s way.
The reprieve proved short lived as Happi-Fankam broke again, this time cutting in and rolling the ball across the box to supporting full back Jaylen Webbe who calmly stroked it past the exposed Trueman for a deserved equaliser – and stun the home crowd.
Suddenly the visitors, with only two goals to their name all season as the league’s whipping boys, sensed an unlikely victory.
Gradually, however, and inspired by the outstanding Radcliffe and Hill, Rams regrouped and just before the half-time whistle, a blue move down the left won a corner. As it was fired in, the visitors defence, attempting to scramble it away, merely set up a lurking Oscar Ratcliffe who gleefully struck the ball through a ruck of players and past Campbell to put the Rams back into the lead – and at a useful time.
As the second half got underway, Liverpool fashioned a series of sometimes dangerous chances, the home back line again looked jittery as red shirts looked as though they would equalise again at any moment.
The Rams rode their luck however, and on the hour, Terry Cummings came on to add much needed zest. On 73 minutes Gareth Hill motored forwards and, with a lovely touch released a weighted low cross across the box. Anticipating it, and on the run, Cummings slid in to force the ball into the net before enjoying the moment with the fans. He always impresses on his cameo appearances and is one the fans would surely like to see more of.
With the pressure relieved, a two-goal cushion, and tiring visitors, the home side started to play some delightful football. Keeper Campbell made a couple of fine flying saves to keep his team in the game.
Gareth Hill got his second on 78 minutes with another sensational leap and header, after being set up by Rowan Chambers. The ball came down off underside of the bar to add to the drama for his eighth goal in seven starts – a masterstroke signing.
Minutes later Hill came within a whisker of getting a deserved hattrick when a header from a corner saw him strike the crossbar as the Rams returning passing game was serenaded by the Ultra’s songbook.
Overall, the Rams are back to winning ways with an emphatic four-one score line, one masking defensive frailties. It’s far easier perhaps to overcome that on the back of a comprehensive victory and players returning from injury, rather than another setback. If they can tighten things up defensively, they can still be a force with which to be reckoned.
Manager Rob Henry was delighted with the result.
“An important three points for us which lifts the mood following a few disappointing results.”
He added, “We started the game really well on the front foot which was exactly what we wanted from the players.
“Frustratingly, we needed to maintain the intensity, keep the pressure on the opposition and try to really take control of the game by scoring more goals early. This was followed by a sloppy spell of the game, with us giving the ball away cheaply, providing the opposition with counter-attacking opportunities.
“In the second half we were much better, playing better football with more quality and creating some really good opportunities, and but for a couple of really good saves from their keeper, it would have been more.”
Looking ahead to the home game on Tuesday against Prestwich Heys, he concluded “This is certainly a platform for us to build on leading into Tuesday night, be still know we can be much improved”.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Trueman, Radcliffe, Collinge, Wilson, Beamon, Chambers (Holden), Sowerby (Forbes), Hill, Ayanaki (Cummings), McCann (Lam) Not used: Ogunby
GOALS: Gareth Hill (2, 78), Radcliffe (45+2), Cummings (73); Webbe (38)
ATT: 187
