The pleasant compact hillside surroundings of Surrey Street stadium hosted Ramsbottom United and their supporters on Saturday
Glossop played well at the Riverside a few weeks ago and proved good value for one one draw and a stubborn performance, so a chance to see whether progress had been made.
Remarkably this was the 23rd fixture in the 46-game programme and represents the league season’s halfway stage. The Rams have risen to the top of the table playing some delightful football, including a string of notable victories away from home.
Playing in unfamiliar red the opening 20 minutes were tentative as the Rams tried to get the wing backs Hayhurst and Radcliffe involved but to the ball was cleared and often out of play, producing an endless series of throw ins, and notable only for Harvey Whyte's picking up a yellow for a robust challenge.
Rams persisted and started to find the rhythm their free-flowing passing game is based around and to push Glossop back. However, another wholehearted challenge by Whyte on the half hour led to a significant change in the game.
The Rams forward received a yellow and then, to everybody’s horror realised he already had one, and the red card flourished. Whyte had to go - a big blow as he was starting to pull the strings
The man advantage encouraged Glossop, with both players and crowd responding and now it was time for the depleted Rams to be forced back. Things could have been even worse, as Scott Sephton went down and hobbled to the side as Rams played for a time with nine men.
Marshalled by Teague and the outstanding Maine Walder, the visitors held firm and reorganised. The went forwards had a strong shout for penalty when the ball clearly struck the hand of a Glossop defender, but the appeals were waved away – one of a series of decisions awarded the home side to the annoyance of the Rams contingent
Just before half time, the Rams reminded the home team why they were top of the league. Maine Walders’s dead ball usage is a potent weapon this season with a fine goal winning the game at Cheadle. Here a free kick about 35 yards out was swung in and dipped towards the goal before thudding against the bar and downwards. Unfortunately, in the ensuing scramble a series of prodded shots were unable to force the ball home, and the danger averted.
Nil nil at half time, and a real test. How would they react to this. Would Steve Wilkes ring the changes, or would the visitors sit back and see the team defend for a draw?
Wilkes remained calm and the same ten came out and produced a remarkable battling performance. The Rams were excellent in the second half.
They pressed, they worked, and the gaps filled, as they continually forced the home side back. It was hard to believe that the advantage wasn't the other way around, such was the prodigious work rate
Rams forced a string of chances. Luke Sephton saw an effort cleared off the line while from Hoyle, Camara, and Teague all joined in the action a series of inswinging Walder corners causing near panic in the home defence, but Rams couldn't force the ball home.
When Glossop did try to fashion a breakaway, their intentions were either read by Walder, playing with real football intelligence, while a couple of longer searching through balls, were read by the immaculate Rose, who calmly stepped forwards and to gather the ball cleanly and with great assurance.
Rams kept pressing and despite the exhaustion the closing minutes saw one of the best moves as Tom Hoyle sprinted down the left channel before cutting inside and firing in a shot which was well was saved by home keeper Brown in front of the traveling fans.
The whistle blew with the Rams still on the attack searching for a deserved winner.
In recent weeks, the Rams have won four one at Padiham, and six nil at Burscough. This performance however must rank alongside them. It might be recorded as nil nil draw on a grey November day but was in reality one of the great away performances, one worthy of a team sitting proudly on top of the table at the halfway stage.
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