RAMS START 2026 WITH A POINT
Rams scorer Matt Dudley battling it out up front.
Ramsbottom United have only played one competitive match in the last calendar month and this was evidenced in the opening minutes at Stockport on Saturday.
Rams, playing in red, faced a tricky encounter with an artificial patch against a low setting sun as the home side played to the conditions.
The opening minutes were scrappy with the ball in the air as the visitors struggled to find their feet. After seven minutes, however, a move down the left by the home side saw George Kattah muscle into the box and produce a low shot which beat Brad Rose to find the far corner of the net.
To their credit the Rams shook off their disappointment, and it looked as though they had equalised almost straight away following a corner. The cross was read by Jacob Holland-Wilkinson with quick footwork and intelligent movement fired a shot just wide of the upright.
Gradually Ramsbottom started to gain a foothold as the ball came down and the passing game prompted by Richie Baker and Tom Walker and especially newcomer Tom McCann kicked in.
Harvey Hayhurst advanced into the box before dragging a shot wide of the far post. Minutes later Rams persistence paid off from another corner. Excellent footwork by Matt Dudley found space to control the ball and rifle it past Schofield and bring the visitors level in the 38th minute.
The home side were tentative and unable to escape from their half for extended periods as the Rams got into their rhythm. They attacked down both flanks although miscommunication saw crosses flashing across the box without anybody being there for simple tap-ins.
Just before half time however, it looked as though the Rams had taken the lead as a move down the right led to Oscar Radcliffe driving a cross into the box and met by Luke Sephton who powered a header past home keeper Schofield. It was frustrating that the excellent finish was chalked off for a marginal offside.
Following the break the home side brought on former Rams favorite Oumar Camara to play against his old teammates. He was a spectator however as Rams stepped up with a pleasing pass and move style which led to sometimes desperate Stockport last-ditch defending to force the ball away from danger.
Richie Baker put in a series of teasing corners which caused real problems with the home keeper clawing one from under the bar before a defender rescued him in heading another off the line from another.
The Rams worked for a winner. Holland-Wilkinson had the best chance as he fastened onto a through ball to beat Schofield for pace in a foot race and then shoot at goal. As the away fans prepared to celebrate, the ball trundled agonisingly wide of the post as if in slow motion.
The game became more end to end with visitors playing well. Stockport posed a threat of their own, especially the feisty and hard-running Tobias Green, who menaced the back line throughout. For the Rams Luke Sephton took the game to the hosts with a fine driven effort clearing the bar.
As the clock ticked down in the closing minutes, nearly a late sting in the tail as Stockport – who had been content to sit back and absorb pressure – burst forwards and fashioned an excellent chance. A fierce shot was heading for the net before a lung bursting sprint and block by Luke Barlow forced it away.
As at Longridge, Rams will be disappointed to have only ended up with a draw, but they should be encouraged by the fact that for long periods, they played some lovely football and after an initial groggy start reacted well to adversity. Also pleasing was the way Thomas McCann slotted into the team with plenty of action and looking most comfortable.
Rams know there’s plenty of hard work to be done between now and the end of the season as the second half of it finally gets underway.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, McCann, Barlow, Walder, Baker (Cross-Adair), Walker (Bennett), Dudley, Sephton, Holland-Wilkinson Not Used: Wallbank, Stacey, Cummings
GOALS: Matt Dudley (38); George Kattah (7)
ATT: 466
