PREVIEW – WYTHENSHAWE (GAME OFF)
Despite a successful early afternoon pitch inspection, the continual heavy rain that followed brought about a second pitch inspection at teatime where the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
We attempt once again to receive the title chasers from south Manchester as this postponed fixture gets another shot – exactly a month later – so its in hope that we welcome Wythenshawe to the HWRS for a Tuesday night under the lights.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Wythenshawe
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 20th February 2024
KICK-OFF: 7.45pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult)
OVERVIEW:
It has been a funny old week! But we hope that the ground has repaired well after the deluge on Saturday afternoon that caused the half-time abandonment by the referee in the game against Colne.
The weather hasn’t been the kindest of late with five postponements and an abandonment already in 2024 and it is only nearly seven weeks old!
Sunnier, or even drier, days are just around the corner, maybe not quite to the pleasant levels that we enjoyed – at least weather wise – back in late July when we kicked off the campaign against our visitors on Tuesday night.
Wythenshawe have certainly kept up their ambitions, poised ready to pounch with games in hand over the top two sides and just six points behind the leaders Bury, whom they have two games less.
They have been outstanding this season and with five wins from their last six games – only a 1-0 reverse at Litherland the blot on the landscape – they will travel with plenty of encouragement having conceded just goals on the road in 17 games, despite losing five of them. Just 15 goals conceded is a quite remarkable statistic.
Steve Wilkes’ side were good value in their defeat to the other Wythenshawe team and, despite being 1-0 down at the break on Saturday before the plug was pulled on the game (would have been useful to have actually had a plug to drain the water!!), there has been good signs that the team are really jelling together.
The prospect though in this game – the Rams have won just 6 of their 17 home games this season – is going to be a very tough one indeed. Bryan Ly has scored 19 goals for Wythy and leads the frontline for the second highest goalscoring side in the division.
The Rams continue to find themselves in 16th place in the table with 15 games still to play but the management team certainly still believe that there is run in this side to come, despite a laden fixture list against some of the very top sides.
It is going to be a very interesting last couple of months to see where this team end up.
HISTORY:
If you would like to remember the sunnier days of July 2023, here is the match report written by Will Place.
STEVE WILKES’ THOUGHTS:
“We take on this seasons surprise package and for me the favourites to go up as champions.
“Since beating us on the opening day, Wythenshawe simply haven’t looked back. I’m also coming up against a trio of players who played for me at my previous club. Daryl Mason, Adam Owen and Saul Henderson, three good lads who I’m pleased to see doing well. Hopefully we can put a spanner in their works tonight and carry on our recent good form.
“Thanks to everyone who attended Saturday’s abandoned game against Colne, I think the referee made the right decision in the end as it rained for a long time after calling it at half time.”
