NEVER SAY DIE RAMS TAKE POINT

Tom Walker scored his first Ramsbottom United goal against Stockport Town. 

The match took place after dramatically fluctuating weather conditions at Ramsbottom. An epic downpour just prior to kickoff set the tone and, although the sun reappeared, billowing steam from an adjacent rail event swept across the pitch on occasion. This, coupled with youthful fans in fine voice and well-used drum, created an atmosphere for which the mainstream football media would spend thousands in any attempt to replicate.

The dramatic backdrop didn’t phase visitors flying high in the league. Stockport, playing in light pink started confidently, looking to turn the home defence and Ramsbottom were soon clinging on as a series of long-range and scuffed shots let the home side off the hook.

Rams distribution from central defence was poor with both the midfield and training drills ignored as aimless punts were hard for the forwards to control and, with the team out of shape, it inevitably came back to increase the pressure.

It was no surprise when Stockport took the lead. A clever ball on the left was taken into the box by Ethan Padden who fired in a hard low shot which beat Rose for pace and nestled into the far corner of the net.

A few minutes later Ramsbottom’s woes intensified as all action midfielder Tom Walker was injured and hobbling badly. Steve Wilkes didn’t rush any substitution and surprisingly, Walker reappeared a few minutes later to ty and run off the injury. It was to prove a tactical masterstroke as a home move down the left led to a ball slung into the box and Walker, of all people, rising highest to head the ball firmly past Schofield and into the corner of the net for the Rams equaliser – and ease the pressure at the interval.

As the second half got underway, Stockport once again took the game to the Rams. They fizzed in a low cross from the left which Luke Barlow, not enjoying his most comfortable performance in a blue shirt, miscued and came close to putting the ball into his own net.

The reprieve didn’t last long as Stockport came again with another attack finding the dangerous Kattah who was able to beat Rose and restore the visitors’ lead.

Stung, the Rams responded once more. The energetic Harvey Hayhurst was causing trouble as Rams down the left and a rare flowing move led to a strong Rams appeal for a penalty for handball which was waved away by referee Rhodes – much to the dismay of both the ultras and the management.

Both managers made excellent real-time decisions in response to the pattern of the game and Steve Wilkes brought on the experienced Harvey Whyte. It was justified remarkably quickly as the hard-running Hayhurst drove into the box at pace before apparently being felled and going over dramatically. Despite Stockport protests the referee pointed to the spot and Whyte, who notched important goals last season, kept this nerve to blast the ball low to the keeper’s right to restore parity.

The game was turning into something of a modern-day classic with action sweeping from end to end as Stockport continued to open the Rams defence – with Turnbull stretching and unable to reach another cross from the left for what would have been a tap in.

Steve Wilkes brought on Harry Winstanley rather than Andy Teague to bolster the shaky central defence, but this time the decision didn’t have the intended impact as Stockport broke once more down the right and a slick pass into the box setting up the impressive Kattah. He was able to smash the ball past Rose to give the visitors the lead once more.

The goal came around five minutes from the end and with fans facing a painful home defeat.

Remarkably, the Rams picked themselves up to bounce back once more. This time a deep cross from Matt Dudley on the left was met on the run by Oscar Radcliffe at the far post – and he shot hard and low past Schofield to delight the massed ultras for another equaliser.

The final whistle was met with applause all around with both teams going over to their respective supporters.

Overall, the Rams management will be keen to address a defence which showed poor distribution and found itself repeatedly exposed by an impressive Stockport team who should have scored even more.

By way of contrast, they will be delighted at the way the Ram showed resilience to bounce back, not once, but three times, to ensure that a home defeat wasn’t played out in front of the home supporters and encourage them to return for more exciting and authentic football as the season progresses.

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

GOALS: Walker (44), Whyte (68p), Radcliffe (85); Padden (40), George Kattah (51, 76)

ATT: 241