PEGGED BACK AT THE DEATH AGAIN
Luke Sephton heading in Harvey Hayhurst’s cross.
NWC Premier • 7 Feb 2026
Heavy rain in West Lancashire abated just in time to allow Saturday’s match between mid-table Charnock-Richard and Ramsbottom United to take place at Mossy Park. The venue is one of a number clubs emerging from the West Lancs league and improving their tidy stadiums – and includes Longridge and nearby Euxton.
Charnock were pleased to be hosting the Rams, who played a couple of levels higher, and the genuine warm welcome is there for those seeking the true soul of football. That hospitality, however, did not extend to the field of play as the Rams, playing in red, endured something of a torrid first half.
Feisty challenges came from both sides and the visitors were lucky not to be put to the sword as green clad Charnock fashioned a number of chances with the nearest flashing just wide of the post.
The first half was an attritional and scrappy one with injuries, bookings and the ball in the air and some wayward passing from both sides as the Rams fought for possession. The nearest they came was a Barlow piled driver which was blocked, with the defender needing physio and a lengthy break – before continuing.
A couple more let offs saw Charnock squander further promising positions and the tepid Rams limp to half time level at nil nil.
With no changes as the game resumed things got even worse for the Rams. Captain Richie Baker is allowed to speak to the referee, but Mr. Green wasn’t happy with the feedback and sent Baker to the sin bin with a lengthy walk around the perimeter before he arrived there.
The Rams held out and once Baker was back from the naughty step regained their shape and made a couple of substitutions to try and gain a foothold as the profligate home side continued to create chances but blazed wide and over from promising positions.
Maine Walder was outstanding for the Rams, cool under pressure, strong on the transition and always looking to move the Rams forwards. Finally, the Rams got the ball down and strung together a menacing move.
Harvey Hayhurst broke down the Rams right on seventy-three minutes and produced a teasing in swinging cross towards the far post. It’s the kind of opportunity which in-form striker Luke Sephton relishes and he produced a trademark angled run followed by a guided header that eventually beat Scurr at his right-hand post and put the Rams into the lead with only seventeen minutes remaining.
The travelling Ultras urged their team on and the Rams seemed much more their usual selves. Jacob Holland Wilkinson, on from the bench, looked especially lively and rifled in two efforts which earlier in the season would have nestled into the net rather than just missing the post with Scurr scrambling.
The minutes ticked by as former Bury man, Gaz Peet drove the home team forwards.
It looked as though the visitors had ridden the storm – but there was trepidation as the electronic board went up displaying six minutes injury time.
As the clocked ticked over into the 96th minute and after a long throw led to some steepled defensive headers as Rams had chances to clear – but never managed it. The ball bounced around before Fenton Davies reacted and prodded it just over the line in something of a carbon copy the Isle of Man’s late goal the previous week and gave Charnock their deserved last-gasp equaliser.
The shipping of points from winning positions is becoming a habit for the Rams, this being the fourth time since Christmas it has happened. Dispiritingly it came as no surprise to the Ultras who almost expect it now. Some of the teams around them in the table may be less skillful but perhaps bring more of a curmudgeonly attitude to get the result. This side of the game, of mental resilience, is not easily addressed on the training field.
The match finished soon afterwards and felt like a defeat. The Rams have given away eight points so far in 2026 and with rivals winning any chances of catching league leaders Wythenshawe, now twelve points ahead, looks fanciful. The prospect of the playoffs, home of last season’s disappointments, looks much more realistic, as Ramsbottom’s soft underbelly continues to haunt them.
It is perhaps a good thing that Ramsbottom United enjoy visiting Charnock Richard, for, on today’s evidence, they will likely be back next season.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Cummings (Wallbank), Hayhurst, Wilson, Barlow, Walder, Baker, Walker (Whittingham), Dudley (McCann), Sephton, Cross-Adair (Holland-Wilkinson) Not Used: Stacey
GOALS: Luke Sephton (73); Fenton Davies (90+6)
ATT: 175
