PREVIEW – WYTHENSHAWE (H)
Right! Come on now! No more rain … please! Us Rammy fans can’t stand it. Let’s have another go at another preview of a game that we hope will take place – and for the third time of asking, we will try and welcome Wythenshawe to the HWRS.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Wythenshawe
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 5th March 2024
KICK-OFF: 7.45pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult)
OVERVIEW:
It’s been three and a half weeks since we last played a full 90 minutes. And the matches continue to back up. We have a remarkable 15 league games still to play and it has come to pass that we have reached the point of four-game weeks later in April.
46 league games for any club is totally ridiculous. For Step 5 non-league where players and volunteers must also work full-time, it is just morose and crass. FA – this cannot continue!
We have played 40 games already this season and still have another fifteen to go and we started the season in mid-summer with a game in delightful temperatures in July – the earliest we have ever started a league campaign – at our opponents today, Wythenshawe. And we still aren’t even close to finishing!
Our last game was against our visitors’ local rivals and promotion chasing foes where we came short 2-1 thanks to a last-minute strike. Since then, we have played 45 minutes, attempted four other games and not got close! So let’s see what happens today.
Wythenshawe are very much within striking distance of the team at the top, Bury. Three games in hand and nine points adrift, they need to maintain their winning run. But so do the Rams, who will be out to stop them and keep their own little challenge on track. We have won two of our last three games, despite them being something like a month ago!
The forecast, we hope, is favourable. The pitch is ready and so are our supporters for an evening under the HWRS lights and we hope that we can finally, finally, get a game on!
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:
Steve is really hoping that this game gets the green light!
“Hopefully this is the day we finally get to play a game as it’s been a very long time! But the players are well rested, we have had some good training sessions, and we hope to be able to put the plans we have in place on the pitch for a change.
“Wythenshawe are going very well and we know it will be a tough game against them as they have been the surprise package this season and, for me, are the favourites to go up as Champions.
“Since beating us on the opening day, they haven’t looked back. I’m also coming up against a trio of players who played for me at my previous club in Daryl Mason, Adam Owen and Saul Henderson, three good lads who I’m please to see doing well.
