Another frustrating day for the Rams

Ramsbottom United 2-2 Longridge Town

Ramsbottom United were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Longridge Town on a frustrating afternoon at the HWRS. Two goals up at half time, second half goals from Jordan Dainty and Jack Anderton secured a well-earned draw for the visitors. Harvey Whyte and Tom Hoyle netted for the Rams. 

Three changes were made to the side that held off Squires Gate in the previous outing. Maine Walder, Dave Lynch and Rhys Turner replaced Raj Uppal, Josh Tinker and Harry Winstanley in the starting eleven. 

Played under gloomy skies on a cold winter’s afternoon, Rammy began the game with their usual high tempo and almost went ahead in the opening minutes. Oscar Radcliffe’s cross somehow trickled past both Harvey Whyte and Hayhurst, while Rhys Turner also came close to opening the scoring with an effort of his own. 

Then in a passage of page that summed up the whole encounter, Longridge then countered and nearly opened the scoring themselves. With only Tommy Davies to beat, Matt Van Wyk fired wide of the target in a major let off for the home side. 

Riding their luck early on, the mood was quickly lifted in the 18th minute as the Rams took the lead. Maine Walder’s cross from the left side was headed home by Harvey Whyte. Only three minutes later,     Steve Wilkes’ side then doubled the lead with a second goal. Again, from the far left, an in-swinging cross was met by Tom Hoyle, whose header into the ground beat keeper Kier Barry. 

Now with a comfortable lead, Rammy raced through the gears with Barry somehow keeping the score line at two nil. Harvey Hayhurst and Hoyle both came close with chances apiece. As the half came to an end however, some superb defending from attacker Whyte prevented Town from an opportunity of their own. The ball went behind for a corner and the resulting delivery was easily dealt with. 

The second half proved tiresome for Rammy, with Wilkes’ side leaving only themselves to blame with their defensive errors and wasteful finishing. 

In the 51st minute, Morgan Homson-Smith’s free kick hit the post with Ridge number 8 Dainty picking up the loose ball to half the advantage. The goal came as a sucker punch, with Walder and Hoyle wasting good opportunities to add the third minutes before. Walder’s free kick from outside the area flew wide, while Hoyle was caught offside bearing down on goal. 

The best chance fell to captain Andy Teague who hit a decent effort straight at Barry from a set piece position. Wing backs Radcliffe and Hayhurst profited from the low block of Longridge with countless deliveries, in addition to the dangerous corner kicks taken by Richie Baker. On the other hand, they found themselves open with Town’s dangerous counter attacks and set piece deliveries. 

In the 76th minute Rammy’s worst fears were then realised as the game’s all important fourth goal went to Longridge, as Anderton found acres of space to meet a Homson-Smith delivery and slot the ball past the exposed Tom Davis in the home goal. 

Despite all efforts, a late home winner was not to be found this time around. In the closing stages, Wilkes through caution to the wind with two attacking changes. Uppal replaced midfielder Lynch and Oumar Camara came on for Rhys Turner. Substitute Raj Uppal came closest with a diving header that sailed past the keeper in stoppage time. Longridge also failed to convert promising counter attacks of their own. 

In more positive news, an attendance of 320 was the highest attendance at home since the Bury match in September, the third highest attendance overall this season. Proof of the hard work put in by all connected to the club, both on and off the pitch. 

As with the supporters, manager Steve Wilkes showed his frustration after the game: “Disappointed is an understatement and the players have been told that the last two performances in the second half are totally unacceptable.

“Everyone knows goals win games and we should have gone in at half-time four or possible five in front.

“We have a lot of young lads in the side who we need to look after over the next few weeks. I still think there will be more twists and turns in the remaining twelve games.

“As always, we dust ourselves down and focus on the game next Saturday”.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Davies, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Teague, Barlow, Walder, Lynch (Uppal 82’), Baker, Turner (Camara 90’), Whyte, Hoyle Subs not used: Stacey, Tinker, Winstanley