VASE ADVENTURE ENDS AT HALLAM

Luke Sephton bares down on the ‘keeper despite the numerous Hallam protests.

The bizarre rule of the FA Vase was partly responsible for the Rams exit at the end of a game that will not live long in the memory.

After two attempts to play the game at home (thwarted firstly by ice, and secondly by waterlogging) the FA insisted on the match being played in Sheffield.

This was despite the fact that the HWRS pitch was perfectly playable. It’s an unfair and unreasonable ruling that stripped Ramsbottom United of the home advantage that the draw had given them.

So a trip over the hills produced a game that surprisingly lacked the intensity of the occasion.

A first half that produced nothing more than half chances saw both teams in for the break at 0-0, and as the game wore on in the second half, another penalty shoot-out appeared to be the most likely outcome to separate these two teams in what was an uninspiring contest.

The closest the Rams came to breaking the deadlock was not long after the break home defender Brownell was fortunate to see his keeper prevent him scoring an own goal.

The Rams did have the ball in the back of the net but the assistant’s flag was raised for off-side.

A couple of wayward shots was the token effort of the Rams misfiring forward line as the minutes ticked by, and whilst the home side attempted the breakthrough, the Rams defence dealt with everything comfortably until the very death.

With just a couple of minutes to go, a slid through ball down the Hallam right saw substitute Callum Ward sneak round the back and as keeper Ryan Hamer came out, he was able to guide the ball around him and into the unguarded net, much to the joy of the home fans.

A cruel and unjust way for the Rams to depart a cup competition that unfairly had them playing their “home” game away.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Hamer, Collinge, Walder, Lewis (Rigby), Radcliffe, Black, Sephton, Campbell, Dudley, Whyte, Chingwaro Subs not used: Hayhurst, Ogunby, Ujahchuku, Roscoe, Lockett

Att: 326