PREVIEW – SQUIRES GATE (A)
With yet another blanked out match day, bringing the tally to 17… yes, SEVENTEEN… postponements we have had this season, we hope that the forecasters are very wrong as we attempt to get the first of our eight remaining games played with a trip to the seaside to face Squires Gate.
MATCH: Squires Gate v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: Brian Addison Stadium, School Road, Blackpool, FY4 5DS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Wednesday 3rd April 2024
KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
DISTANCE FROM RAMMY: 50 minutes, 40.6 miles
ADMISSION: Adults (19+) – £7, Concessions (17, 60+) – £4, Under 16s – FREE
OVERVIEW:
You really did have to feel for the staff and volunteers at Squires Gate when this game was scheduled to take place back in early March. It was the NWCFL Groundhopper weekender and this was one of the selected games, with a 5pm kick-off to boot. Unfortunately, the rain came and the match was postponed – leaving Gate with a hefty bill of excess food, drink and programmes.
Their subsequent gofundme campaign brought in nearly £2.5k which at least covered their expenses but having still lost out on a hefty chunk of income from the postponement, it would be really good if all of us Rams gave them our support this time around for this Wednesday evening rearrangement to show a bit of solidarity.
One thing is guaranteed – neither side will finish bottom of the table as Skelmersdale United have already sealed that fate, securing back-to-back relegations. But the side from the Fylde coast are sitting in 23rd place albeit just three points behind the Rams but having played four games more.
They are scrapping hard and with three wins in their last six games, including a 5-3 away success at AFC Liverpool last time out, they are definitely giving it their best shot of finishing as high up the table as possible.
As for the Rams, they still sit in 18th place but points continue to be picked up by the sides below while they sit dormant but with time running out for them all – they either have four or five games left to play.
The Rams still have eight in this farcical season that has seen the mammoth 17 games scratched off. For the next three weeks, we have games aplenty, this being the first of five away days before we close with three home matches on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Nothing is guaranteed and Gate are 10th in the form table with those wins. The Rams are rock bottom, without a win in eight games and just two points gained in that time. A win on their travels would give the visitors a real boost and performances have been positive but just without that lucky break.
Manager Steve Wilkes is at the end of his tether with the amount of misfortune his side have endured.
Maybe a trip on “The Big One” and the rattly old rollercoaster might be the perfect tonic. Or will it be another day of faltering lights.
HISTORY:
As mentioned, this is the 32nd competitive meeting since the first back in 1995. The Rams lead 14-8 in the head-to-head stakes with nine draws although Squires Gate have won the last two games, separated by nearly 12 years!
Our record on the coast is 5 wins and four defeats alongside six draws with two wins each in the last four.
If you need reminding, here is the report from the pre-Christmas meeting that went the way of the visitors 2-1.
MANAGER’S THOUGHTS:
“I’ve never known a season like it for weather, permitting this game goes on we now have 8 games in 18 days which is just ludicrous.
“This game sees us over to the seaside to take on Squires Gate. Hopefully the weather gets better and we get the game on.”
