JHW DENIED AS REMY TAKE THE POINTS
One of numerous flash points as the Rams stumble at Litherland Sports Park on Saturday.
The Rams had a perfectly good equaliser from Jacob Holland-Wilkinson ruled out for offside in the 87th minute and ultimately headed back down the East Lancs empty-handed.
Ramsbottom United travelled to lowly Litherland on Saturday. The home side had opened up the title race by defeating rivals Wythenshawe in midweek but five straight wins for the Rams also gave room for optimism for the Rams ultras – but it was not to turn out like that.
An open pitch and swirling wind saw the ball constantly out of play with endless stoppages – augmented by home players going to ground. As a result, the game never developed beyond a turgid stop-start encounter.
On thirteen minutes red and white striped shirts broke forwards before releasing Alfie Walker on the right. With the Rams defence appealing for offside, the flag stayed down and he calmly lifted the ball over Rams keeper Brad Rose to give the home side the lead.
A blow, but also a chance to test the Ram’s resilience and fortunately the ultras did not have long to wait for the response. Harvey Hayhurst, in a fine vein of form right now, read a deep cross on the edge of the left side of the box before crashing a volley which flew past Filandros in the Remyca goal, to bulge the net for a dramatic equaliser.
The Rams couldn’t build on the leveller, however, and the home side nearly retook the lead on the half hour when a header which looked certain to end up in the far corner of the net, drifted wide of the post – to the visiting fans’ relief.
The match descended into a game of endless niggles with the ball bouncing around without being controlled, leaving the Rams midfield failing to impose themselves, with hurried passing and the choice of wrong options which saw the forwards stretched or left with too much do to do.
The game, unwatchable at times. saw the teams’ level at the break – but news filtered that Wythenshawe were three nil ahead away from home and were in the process of opening a decisive gap with only four games remaining.
The game resumed in the second half with the same attritional pattern. No Ram was able to take control and get the ball to feet. The nearest they came to taking the lead came around the hour mark when the mobile Lucas Braganca fired in a rather speculative cross-shot which rebounded out from the crossbar.
Worse was to follow. A home corner was not cleared and, with the Rams central defence in disarray, dinked back into the box and eventually stabbed past Rose by Harry Middlehurst to give the home side the lead – and energise the sparse home crowd.
The Rams responded, with new signing Daniel Forbes coming on and establishing an imposing presence.
Chasing the game, the men in blue started to play football, With the clock ticking, a storming run by Forbes led to a fierce low drive which Filandros was only able to parry. Running in from deep, Jacob Holland-Wilkinson took a touch, rounded the keeper and planted the ball in the net for the equaliser. Unfortunately, the linesman’s flag – which stayed down in the first half -went up much to the incredulity of the travelling fans. It was a moment which summed up the whole experience, as the goal was chalked off.
As injury time approached Brad Rose delivered a free kick in the home half as the visitors tried to rescue the game with the resulting goal-bound effort from Matt Dudley hooked off the line as the increasingly jubilant home fans cheered every stroke of fortune.
Eventually the whistle went and the Rams trudged off with the home supporters jubilant and aware that their late season surge could produce the miracle of avoiding what looked like certain relegation just a month ago. Those who travelled returned home contemplating just how damaging this reverse might be at the end of the season. Although a pale shadow of the team which has revived the title race in recent weeks, the least they deserved was a draw.
With ninety points on board Steve Wilkes has built a fine side, one which will doubtless fight to the end as they go again at home on Monday. There may yet be twists and turns, but it was the home side celebrating thoughts of that unlikely escape as the Rams again face a playoff lottery.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Braganca, Walder, Barlow, Wilson, Whyte, Holland-Wilkinson, Stacey (Forbes), Dudley, Sephton, Hayhurst Not used: Cross-Adair, Whittingham, Thompson, Cummings
GOALS: Harvey Hayhurst (16); Alfie Walker (14), Harry Middlehurst (61)
ATT: 105
