OSCAR DOUBLE IN RECORD STREAK
Oscar Radcliffe enjoying the moment after doubling the Rams lead with a fine solo run spanning half the pitch.
Our winning run stretched to nine games as the Rams braved the difficult first half conditions to gain a well earned three points ahead of Saturday’s long trip to the North East in the Vase.
Those 9 straight wins is a new Rammy record – passing the 8 achieved in the 2013/14 season (4 league wins, 3 in FA Trophy and 1 LFA Trophy) – 5 Oct 2013 to 6 Nov 2013.
Nine is definitely the number of the day as Oscar Radcliffe made it that for the season with his brace, his first a fine solo run from inside his own half, as top scorer Jacob Holland-Wilkinson added another to his growing tally all after Harvey Hayhurst forced home a close range early opener.
Barlick’s converted penalty kick midway through the first half was the first goal conceded by the Rams in over, you guessed it, nine hours of football, coincidentally that was Barnoldswick again in our 3-1 win at the Silentnight Stadium back in mid-October.
Match Report:
Ramsbottom United turned on the style on a heavy pitch on Tuesday evening as they hosted Barnoldswick in the Premier Division. The home side hit the top of the table over the weekend and looked to consolidate their position – although the visitors boasted a useful run of form themselves.
Both teams started brightly with the red-shirted visitors not afraid to go forwards. However, it was the Rams who drew first blood on eleven minutes. Richie Baker played a clever reverse pass into the box and read by Harvey Whyte. Keeper, Dale Latham, smothered his low shot, but the ball ran clear and was seized upon by Harvey Hayhurst in support. Hayhurst showed no hesitation in firing it past the keeper and into the net to give the home side the lead to the delight of the home supporters who roared their approval.
Rams, driven by a midfield of Baker, Walder and Wallbank – with Whittingham making a welcome start – played with the swagger of a top of a table side.
Oscar Radcliffe is in inspirational form and, pushed up from his wing-back berth, his direct and powerful running caused the visitors problems throughout. A series of storming runs down the right flank giving visiting defender Connor McAuley something of a torrid evening.
On twenty-one minutes Radcliffe embarked on a run from his own half and slalomed through a couple of challenges. His run continued all the way into the box and as fans and teammates wondered what he would do next, he fired in a low shot, planting the ball past Latham for a wonderful finish – greeted with acclaim by teammates and fans gathered behind the goal.
To their credit Barnoldswick stuck to their passing game and on one occasion put together a move of over twenty passes, not bad for a side playing away two nil down against a side top of the league, as they started to gain a foothold.
A red shirted charge forward into the edge of the box was stopped by what was deemed a foul by Luke Barlow, the penalty was duly given and calmy dispatched, despite torchlight distraction, by Gareth Hill.
Rams’ keeper, Brad Rose regards the conceding of a goal as a personal affront and rubbing salt into the wound it was Barnoldswick who scored last – over five matches ago. The talented Rams keeper can console himself that it needed a twelve-yard spot kick to beat him.
Rams continued to press with an acrobatic overhead kick from Matt Dudley, the pick of the multitude of chances created.
Two-one at half time the game finely poised and although the Rams created waves of chances, a surprisingly slender lead and work lay ahead.
As the second half got underway the Rams upped the tempo once more and fortunately have a master in of the art of goal scoring in Jacob Holland-Wilkinson. As with his second at Prestwich on Saturday the young striker created a chance out of nowhere, seizing the ball before advancing to the edge of the box and arcing a lovely shot past Latham and into the far corner of the net to give the Rams the deserved three-one lead and vital breathing space.
The strike, his eighteenth goal of the season for the in-form hitman, the recipient of a Player of the Month award from the league prior to the start of the game. Rams continued to play attractive football with the wingbacks pushing up wherever possible but also further intelligent interchanges between Wallbank, Walder and captain Richie Baker.
In the seventy seventh minute another passing move led to a powerful shot blocked by Oscar Radcliffe. The in-form defender was not to be thwarted and followed up to fire past Latham for his second of the evening. Although chasing a remarkable hattrick, Steve Wilkes sensibly gave him a deserved rest soon afterwards with an eye on the the grueling campaign ahead while allowing replacement Scott Sephton further match time in his road back to full fitness.
Striker Aaron Bennett nearly opened his account in the closing minutes with an explosive burst of pace and fine footwork around the box but his shot unfortunatley cannoned against the top of the bar.
Those fans who turned out to support their team on a damp evening witnessed a confident and fluid team producing sometimes sublime passing football and delivering an emphatic victory and keeping the Rams top of the table.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe (Ogunby), Hayhurst, Wallbank (S Sephton), Barlow, Walder, Baker, Whittingham (Stacey), Dudley, Whyte, Holland-Wilkinson (Bennett) Not used: Braganca
GOALS: Hayhurst (11), Radcliffe (21, 77), Holland-Wilkinson (52)
ATT: 183
