IRLAM PREVIEW
The NWCFL league table still has 43 games to run but, come on, its very pleasant to see Ramsbottom United sitting in second place – or probably equal first in reality with us being second on alphabetical order – but there is a long way to go and we open the gates to visitors Irlam on Tuesday night for match number four.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Irlam
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 13th August 2024
KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult)
RAMMY IN: Blue
OVERVIEW:
“School is out and it’s a sort of a buzz
But back then I didn’t really know what it was
But now I see what have of this
The way that people respond to summer madness”
‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Unbeaten in the first three league games for the first time since August 2019 and in a season that actually finished for the first time since August 2017. There is definitely a buzz around the place and, whilst it is far too early to be painting up the open top bus for a parade through the town in April, there is a marked difference in the voice of the supporters.
A superb 3-0 victory over the early league leaders FC St Helens on Saturday has given the summer madness an extra spring and two league clean sheets – we didn’t collect a second league shut out until the end of November last season so already, the statistics are positive.
But heading into town are Irlam, a side who haven’t found their feet just yet but did hold the supposed pre-season league title favourites Bury to a 2-2 draw on the new plastic pitch at Gigg Lane at the weekend although they were unable to hold onto their interval 2-1 lead in the second half. As first league points go, that’s a pretty decent one in front of nearly 3,000 baying Buryites.
Two home defeats kicked their campaign off to Stockport Town and FC Isle of Man but the weekend draw would have steadied the ship and they took a point away from the HWRS last year in September when Nicholas Taylor’s early second half strike was cancelled out by Harvey Whyte’s penalty just before the hour mark (pictured above). We did claim all three from our trip to Silver Street pre-Christmas though, coming through 3-0 with a brace from Matthew Dudley and a single through Kuda Chingwaro.
The visitors finished bang in mid-table last season with 15 wins, 15 defeats and the kings of the draw with 16 of them, the most of the NWCFL with the Rams 11 points behind so they will be no pushover despite the early results thus far.
STEVE WILKES’ THOUGHTS:
“I was really pleased with the performance and the result on Saturday, even more so when we had two or our more experienced players out.
“We controlled the game so my only real disappointment was that we didn’t score a few more goals.
“But we now move onto Irlam on Tuesday night and that will be a tough game against very good opponents.”
