Poor Rams downed at Irlam

Manager Rob Henry looks on as his team slip to defeat at Irlam.

Ramsbottom United leave Silver Street empty-handed after second half goals earn Irlam all three points.

Ramsbottom United headed to nearby Irlam on a pleasant Saturday afternoon, full of hope with a couple of back-to-back wins improving the feeling and with the opportunity to break what is becoming an away day hoodoo.

The home side, in blue, had former Rams boss Chris Willcock among their coaches and the high- tempo passing style he epitomises was in evidence as they seized the initiative. Irlam, playing neat constructive football from the back on a well-tended and level home pitch, at times swarmed around the red-shirted Ram’s box without ever managing to fashion a clear-cut chance.

This was due to the hard work of the Rams defence who kept their shape and restricted the home side to long distance efforts, the nearest of which curled the wrong side of Reece Trueman’s post

The Rams passing was woeful at times, with aimless punts in the general direction of an outnumbered Gareth Hill and invariably returned, inviting further pressure. They seemed unable to break out from the back and stumbled and hesitated without any drive as they conceded a series of corners and throw ins.

Irlam’s final passes however were often wayward, letting the Rams off the hook as, gradually, they did start to fashion a couple of fitful chances themselves as Oscar Radcliffe and Charlie Cox found pockets of space on the flanks. The nearest the Rams came was with a corner from the left, driven across by Matt Dudley and flicked on in the air by Gareth Hill.  It looked as though it was going in but ended just the wrong side of the post.

Halftime arrived with Rams clinging on at nil-nil, but at least they were still in the contest.

A dramatic Rams team huddle took place as the team reappeared, perhaps indicating that work was needed on the mental side – cranking up the spirit to seize a first away victory of the season.

Whatever was conveyed was not translated into action, as the Rams continued with misplaced passes and the ball bouncing around at knee and waist height and rarely under control.

    Sensing this, the home team upped the tempo to put the Rams under a siege. Macauley Wilson was called into action to make a fine intervention after 55 minutes but, perhaps carrying a knock, was substituted moments later.

Moments later, Irlam won a corner on the left and their clever low delivery was flicked on at the near post, continued across the goal line with the Rams defence frozen, and stabbed in by Jack Mitchell at the back post to give Irlam a deserved lead – and ignite the crowd.

Any thoughts of the goal provoking a Rams reaction proved misguided, as the muted ultras tried to rouse them from their lethargy.

The game was becoming a battle as the game entered its final phases, a series of home substitutes kept the tempo going as they looked more likely to add to the total as the Rams looked dejected and beaten.

A breakaway two minutes from time, saw the visitors squander opportunities to clear and led to a shot at Trueman’s goal. He did well to beat it out, but substitute Millen Brown followed up to pick his spot with an emphatic finish for a more realistic 2-0.

The match finished moments later. A miserable afternoon as, slightly surprisingly, the team came across to their supporters to commiserate.  Any thoughts of the Rams mounting a challenge at the top, should, on this showing, be replaced with more realistic ambitions. The team amassed just two points from fifteen on the road – form which should see them surveying the bottom end of the table. 

The ultras shared that this was the most disappointing result of the season with the team offering nothing throughout.

Manager Rob Henry was as disappointed as the supporters.

“I was disappointed with the performance and the result that we couldn’t build on the momentum of the two wins prior”, he bemoaned.

“We lacked energy, intensity and quality, which is massively frustrating. We didn’t impose ourselves on the game, nor did we show enough courage with the ball meaning we didn’t create enough in the game.

“Today’s performance did not meet the expectation and the standards that we have set for ourselves previously. We know we are light with the injuries we have suffered, but that can’t be an excuse and we need to do so much more, which starts next week against Droylsden.”

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Trueman, Radcliffe, Cox, Collinge, Wilson (Coulton), Cleary, Chambers, Forbes (Lam), Hill, Dudley, Ayanyaki (McCann)   Not used: Doyle, Beamon

GOALS: Jack Mitchell (56), Millen Brown (89)

ATT: 264