RAMS CLOSE 2025 WITH A POINT
Tom Walker and Richie Baker in action at Longridge Town.
The Rams, in their usual blue, appeared momentarily dazed, with an uphill task ahead. Prompted, however, by captain Richie Baker – who seems to find another level when Wallbank and Walker play alongside – forced their way into the contest and let loose goal machine, Jacob Holland Wilkinson.
The visitors pushed forwards, winning a series of corners. Luke Barlow, marking his hundredth appearance for his hometown club, pushed into the box in support as one was recycled by Baker for an in swinging cross headed goalwards by Luke Sephton. It crashed against the crossbar before being hacked to safety by a reeling home defence just able to cling on to the lead at the break.
Whatever was said in the Rams dressing room seemed to have an immediate effect as the team began to show real menace.
It was no surprise when, on 53 minutes, Jacob Holland- Wilkinson brought the Rams level. A move across the front line found him about twenty-five yards out. Never one-to-dally, he fired an accurate long range low strike which beat Charlie Brier in the home goal as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
With the visitors deservedly back in the contest, daylight gave way to nightfall and the floodlights pierced the gloom as the icy cold took hold on those watching. Blue shirts appeared everywhere as they rediscovered the pleasing ground passing style which has served them so well and on a helpful well-tended surface.
On 66 minutes another Rams move down the right saw Oscar Radcliffe drive forwards before producing a deep diagonal cross which was met with split -second timing by the head of Luke Sephton. This time he was not to be denied by the goal frame as the pace helped him find the inside of the post and then the netting for a wonderful goal and apparently complete a remarkable turnaround. As the team celebrated with Sephton they then ran across to thank Radcliffe for the sublime assist.
The Rams sought to manage out the remaining minutes but, as ever, there was another contentious – and costly – decision in wait.
Richie Baker played a free kick towards the corner flag rather than choose a more direct route to goal as the clock ticked down. The home side won the ball and crafted a counter which saw an incisive ball played to an apparently offside Jack Anderton. The Rams backline to a man appealed but the well-placed assistant’ flag stayed down and Anderton calmly moved into the box before slipping the ball under an exposed Brad Rose to find the net for the equaliser.
Overall, and with a glass half empty perspective the Rams will be disappointed that two points slipped from their grasp. From a more realistic glass half-full point of view, the second half saw a return to the scintillating football which had seen the team put together eleven straight victories with a great performance which bettered last year’s result.
The season has reached the halfway stage and Rams are handily placed in third on 52 points with everything to play for in this most enjoyable of campaigns and go into the new year full of hope and optimism.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Wallbank (Teague), Barlow, Walder, Baker, Walker, Dudley (Cross-Adair), Sephton, Holland-Wilkinson (McCann) Not used: Stacey, Bennett
GOALS: Jacob Holland-Wilkinson (53), Luke Sephton (66); Liam Atkinson (12), Jack Anderton (88)
ATT: 374
