RAMS JUST GR-EIGHT IN BIG VASE WIN
Fellow goalscorers Jacob Holland-Wilkinson and Matt Dudley celebrate with hat-trick hero Harvey Whyte.
With Andy Teague back in defence, the home side were finding willing runners and just after half an hour a sharp passing, training ground, move led to Hayhurst advancing down the left fire in a low cross met by Corey Stacey who slid in to give the home side a deserved lead.
Any idea the home side would sit back and allow the game to unfold was challenged a few minutes later when smart build up play teed up Harvey Whyte on the edge of the box. He shifted his body weight to create space and then bent a lovely strike past the keeper and into the corner of the net for a delightful finish and to double the lead.
Rams midfield was purring as players relished the slick pitch and cool conditions, and a few minutes later it was to be three. Another passing move down the left was followed by a nod back in the box and then a delightful stooping header into the far corner of the net by Jacob Holland-Wilkinson as he, his team mates and the fans enjoyed the experience.
By half time and with a three-nil lead. The key home risk appeared not an unlikely comeback by the visitors but by the elements as the torrential rain, gained even more intensity.
The match resumed with a well-weighted pass setting first Oscar Radcliffe and then Holland Wilkinson free. He strode forwards into the box before rolling a lovely, weighted cross into the path of Matt Dudley who nonchalantly planted the ball into the net for number four. The deceptively simple-looking move was once more derived from their coaching sessions, and to see all the hard background preparation being put into effect in a competitive match must have been satisfying as the management enjoyed the exhibition as much as the crowd.
As the rain continued and floodlights pierced the gloom, Henri Ogunby, who replaced Hayhurst, continued to torment the visitors. He charged down the left before sharp passing once more teed up Whyte on the edge of the box. This time his shot took a deflection but still found the back of the net for number five.
Steve Wilkes brought on further players from the bench, including Rick Whittingham, Tom Walker and later Luke Sephton there was to be no easing of intensity as the Rams added to their visitors’ woes.
Harvey Whyte was on a hattrick, and a penalty save in a rare slice of good fortune for Glasshoughton saw a fine stop from Sam Ngombo to keep him out.
The visitors’ misery was compound with a red card for a last man foul and Whyte did get his hattrick as his free kick was bent into the box, eluded everyone and end up in the net to his and the crowd’s delight.
The Rams were six nil up and threatening to run riot. On 75 minutes Radcliffe made a driving run into the box from the right. He looked up before crashing in a shot to find the net for number seven.
On eighty minutes Radcliffe found his way into the box for a clever header to guide a left wing cross into the net as number eight arrived and his second goal of the afternoon.
Brad Rose, a virtual spectator kept his concentration as Glasshoughton almost fashioned a chance at the death with the Rams stopper stretching to turn away a hard driven effort heading for the far corner.
This consummate performance was as impressive as the eight-nil result, producing intelligent football with the bulk of the work done off the ball and blending creativity. The FA Vase is a competition highly regarded at the Riverside and the two hundred souls who braved the elements will be glad they did.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst (Ogunby), Teague, Barlow, Walder (Winstanley), Baker (Whittingham), Holland-Wilkinson, Dudley (Sephton), Whyte, Stacey (Walker)
GOALS: Stacey (32), Whyte (38, 64, 70), Holland-Wilkinson (44), Dudley (51), Radcliffe (75, 80)
ATT: 203
