RAMS PEGGED BACK TWICE IN IRLAM DRAW

Richie Baker tries to get a late winner for his side.

A completely unchanged squad was named by Steve Wilkes from the side that won at Glossop North End on Saturday, and the home side came flying out of the blocks in the opening moments, and got their reward. Harvey Hayhurst’s cross from the left was missed by Jacob Holland-Wilkinson but the loose ball was pounced on by Matt Dudley who calmly slotted past Elliot Wynne in the Irlam goal, in just the third minute, for his 20th goal of the campaign.

Irlam, in their red strip that resembled Ramsbottom’s away outfit, hit back immediately, from a corner just 90 seconds later. Lucas Edwards’ swinging corner caused havoc in the Rams 6 yard box, and it was Callum Sandle, fresh from his 4-goal haul last Tuesday night, who reacted quickest to volley home and level the scoring with not even five minutes on the clock.

A frantic opening sector of the game continued, with chances mostly going the Rams’ way. Luke Sephton controlled a Richie Baker free kick well on the edge of the box, and volleyed towards goal, only for Wynne to deal with it. Another set piece caused more problems at the back for Irlam, with a looping Maine Walder free kick floating over Wynne, but had just too much on it for Luke Barlow at the back post.

Just seconds later however, Jacob Holland-Wilkinson was adjudged to have been fouled just inside the Irlam area, winning a penalty which he duly converted, despite Wynne threatening to keep it out after diving the right way to his left hand side.

The pattern of play began to settle down for the remainder of the first half, but there were still chances for the Rams to build on their lead. Wynne was again forced into action in the 25th minute, topping a Baker effort around the post.

There were strong appeals for a second home penalty when Luke Sephton was caught right on the line of the area – the linesman had a good view but agreed with the referee’s decision of a free kick.

Irlam’s best chance of the half, other than their goal, came in the last few minutes, with Joshua Wood leading a break away down the left hand side resulting in a free header and then a volley off target.

The early minutes of the second half were in contrast to the rush of chances at the start of the first, but the game was brought alive once more in the 55th minute, with Irlam being gifted an equaliser. With tackles flying in and the Rams attacking, a Irlam clearance caused a moment of indecision at the back, and Rose, coming out of his box into an area of the pitch that caused challenges to footing all evening, failed to control a bobbling ball, allowing John Johnston to get goalside and pass the ball into an empty net.

The goal lifted Irlam’s spirits, and it was they who had the best of the majority of the remainder of the second half. A well worked free kick routine of their own resulted in a chipped ball into the box for Sandle, who headed over. The Rams survived a series of dangerous looking corners, particularly from the left foot of Edwards.

With 5 minutes additional time added to the game, the home side suddenly came alive and created a flurry of goal-scoring opportunities. Terry Cummings, a bright spark since coming off the bench, created space down the right hand side with some tricky footwork, before sending a cross in to Hayhurst, whose strong header beat Wynne, but was superbly cleared off the line. Seconds later, Tom Walker’s effort from outside the box shaved the top of the crossbar.

Deep into injury time, a free kick was won by Sephton, allowing Baker the chance to put what seemed like surely the last chance of the game on target. His free kick beat the wall, but was met by a spectacular Elliot Wynne diving save.

There was still time for the resulting corner however, and with a number of Rams bodies in there, the crossbar was rattled from a header before being desperately cleared by visiting defenders, forcing the Rams to settle for a point.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED:Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, McCann (Cross-Adair), Barlow, Walder, Baker, Walker, Dudley, Sephton (Cummings), Holland-Wilkinson   Not Used: Wallbank, Stacey, Bennett

GOALS: Matt Dudley (3); Jacob Holland-Wilkinson (14p); Callum Sandle (3), John Johnston (54)

ATT: 187