MATCH: Prescot Cables v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: IP Truck Parts Stadium, Valerie Park, Hope Street, Prescot, L34 6HB
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League Division 1 West
DATE: Saturday 11th September 2021
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
DISTANCE FROM RAMMY: 40 miles, 45 minutes

ADMISSION:
You can pay on the gate – adults (16+) £8, concessions £5, children under 16 £1

OVERVIEW:
Four wins, 15 goals, third in the league table – things are definitely looking up for the Rams and so they should be. A settled side, a happy team, a manager who is working brilliantly with his charges and getting the best out of them.

And the concern over the break in the momentum was certainly quashed on Tuesday night when our bogey side Colne were dismissed 3-1 with another excellent performance from start to finish.

So, you would think that a trip over to Merseyside on Saturday to face bottom of the table Prescot Cables would be deemed as being an easy task given the recent run of form for Lee Donafee’s side!

Not a bit of it. If there is one thing that a league table says is that any side in 20th place does not want to be there and with a single point from five starts, that is not where the ‘Pesky Bulls’ want to be.

And they will definitely see the challenge of Ramsbottom United as a chance to lift themselves out of the basement.

You only have to look at their record this season so far – on the sides between 8th and 20th, only Kidsgrove Athletic can match their goal tally of nine. They are scoring goals – but conceding crucial ones too. 3-2 at home to Clitheroe that needed a 90th minute winner, 3-3 draw with much fancied Warrington Rylands and a 4-3 reverse at Kendal Town on Tuesday night shows they are capable of causing a few concerns in the visiting camp.

But with the leading goalscorer in the league in James Murphy, who has bagged six from his six appearance to date and the in form Jamie Rainford and Domaine Rouse, coupled with superb defensive work has seen the Rams produce some stellar performances and another on Saturday wouldn’t go a miss.

STAT OF THE PREVIEW:
The Rams have only lost once to Prescot Cables in their last 11 meetings, dating back to March 2014. In that time, we have recorded nine wins and a draw – Cables’ sole win coming in February 2018 2-1 at Volair Park.

HISTORY:
You can read all about the history between the Rams and Prescot Cables in our comprehensive “Have We Met” article, which is below.

HAVE WE MET… PRESCOT CABLES?

TEAM NEWS:
Manager Lee Donafee knows the challenge laying ahead on Saturday when he heads back to his ‘homeland’ of Merseyside.

“No one wants to be bottom of the table and Prescot Cables are a very good side, who have just not had the rub of the green in terms of results. So, we will need to be at our best to get a positive result.

“But I don’t want to sound like a broken record in saying that we need to concentrate on us and what we are doing. We have played really well over the last few games and got the results they deserved so we cannot drop off our standards just because we are going well.”

He has been boosted by the news that defender Will Hall has had his loan spell from Altrincham extended by another month.

“I want to thank Altrincham for letting Will stay for another month, he has been absolutely outstanding for us.”

The manager doesn’t have any other concerns in the squad at present and is hoping to field the same squad that has served him well for this game.

However, three players have gone out on loan this week in Khalil Osi-Efa and Cameron Collins, who have joined up with Tom Glover at NWCFL outfit Litherland REMYCA – Glover headed there last week for a spell.

Kick off is at 3pm at the IP Truck Parts Stadium – and it’s not a difficult journey so let’s get right behind the lads and aim for that fifth win in a row.