JACOB MASTERCLASS

Jacob Holland-Wilkinson made it 10 goals for the season after his hattrick at Euxton Villa.

The pleasant surroundings of Euxton on Tuesday evening provided a relatively new destination with the Orange and Black clad home team having gained promotion last season.

Playing in their usual blue the Rams were quick out of the blocks, putting together a series of smart passing moves in the opening stages.

The high tempo start paid dividends. In the tenth minute Hayhurst sprinted down the left flank before playing in Holland Wilkinson in the box. He took it early and crashed the ball past Lombard in the home goal for the opener which was met with delight by the travelling fans gathered behind.

The Rams carried on where they had left off on Saturday, playing high speed pass and move football and leaving the home side chasing shadows.

Minutes later Radcliffe charged down the right before firing in a hard low cross, met on the run by Holland-Wilkinson, who used its pace to steer it into the net for the second.

The home team were reeling and the spectators stunned as the Rams masterclass continued. Moments later Holland -Wilkinson controlled the ball in the box before producing a well weighted cross and Hayhurst smashing it first time on the volley past Lombard and into the net. The travelling fans were sent into raptures and their team three nil up on unfamiliar terrain – and after only sixteen minutes.

Rams were producing total football, the slick passing style suited the artificial pitch but obviously such intensity cannot be maintained for ninety minutes, and it was no surprise when Euxton gradually regained composure and fought for possession for the remainder of the half. The alert Maine Walder put in a number of crucial interceptions to prevent dangerous position situations developing.

The Rams were good value however for the half time three nil lead.

Following the interval the visitors tried to increase the tempo once more with their quick accurate passing releasing the forwards, but a series of frustrating interventions from the officials prevented them developing. It seemed every decision seemed to go against them and prevented any addition to the total.

Euxton used the break in rhythm to put together moves and chances, but these took the form of isolated raids rather than any sustained pressure one could expect from the home team.

A series of substitutions by Steve Wilkes led to the tempo being increased once more and a fine move and cross down the right led to Luke Sephton finding the net with the deftest of flicked headers before the officials chalked it off to everyone’s dismay.

The Rams, however, weren’t to be denied and produced a most fitting response. Jacob Holland-Wilkinson wrapped up his hattrick in emphatic style after a fine diagonal break from the back led to him smashing the ball past Lombard after being teed up by the hard-working Sephton. Holland-Wilkinson epitomises the intelligent player favoured by Wilkes and this reward has been coming with him opening with a brace on his very first outing in a blue shirt back in July.

In the closing minutes the visitors were to be grateful for Brad Rose playing his 50th game for Ramsbottom. The fine young keeper tipped a dangerous dipping effort over the bar and followed up with a series of excellent saves from rasping driven shots as the home side tried for a consolation. Rose’s concentration, especially over the prolonged periods where Rams kept the ball in the other half, is a testament to his focus and once again the chants of ‘England’s number one’ chiming from the travelling fans.

Overall, a consummate performance by Ramsbottom United. The fans love the goals, and their team racked up fourteen in the last week – but the element providing the most dispassionate management greatest satisfaction are the clean sheets, this being the third in succession.

Who is to say how far this team can go – but on a night like this it’s difficult to see anyone matching their intensity. Their total footballing philosophy, slick interchanges and formidable work rate, shredding teams on their own patch, is a delight to be a part of.

At the end the players, coaches and management ran across as one to their jubilant supporters in acknowledgment of each other’s efforts for the cause and wonderful game of football.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst (Ogunby), Wallbank, Barlow, Walder, Baker (Stacey), Holland-Wilkinson (Whittingham), Dudley, Whyte, Sephton   Not used: Walker, Winstanley

GOALS: Holland-Wilkinson (10, 14, 77),  Hayhurst (16)

ATT: 171