HAYHURST BRACE EXTENDS RUN
Harvey Hayhurst celebrates his goal that regained the Rams lead.
As the Rams pushed for victory in the closing stages, a cross turned shot from Hayhurst sent the net bulging and the home faithful into rapturous applause. Hayhurst had opened the scoring in only the 2nd minute, while Tom Beckett was on the score sheet for the visitors.
Unchanged from the side that beat Cheadle the previous weekend, Ramsbottom were ahead after only 2 minutes. A marauding attack saw Hayhurst fire home from ten yards following an incisive cross from Luke Sephton.
The opening 20 minutes brought a style of attacking football no opposition could have prevented, where the home side had numerous chances to win the game early on.
Immediately after Hayhurst’s opener, an in-swinging delivery from Radcliffe was met perfectly by the number 11 Tom Hoyle, but the cross bar came to AFC Liverpool’s rescue this time around.
He was again unfortunate in front of goal when AFC keeper David Parkinson kept out third attempt, this time unable to beat the keeper after turning centre back Owen Fisher-Jones inside out. Raj Uppal came close with an effort wide of the post, while Adam Moorcroft was alert to deflect a Radcliffe cross behind for a corner.
The fixture was quickly turning into déjà vu for Steve Wilkes’ side as the half progressed. The Rams created a whole plethora of opportunities yet were unable to convert any of them.
As with previous weeks however, they conceded a soft goal with an equaliser in the 28th minute. From a Ramsbottom corner, Philip Stafford’s men drew level from a wicked counterattack with Tom Beckett converting a Dan Mahaffy cross. The game turned on its hinges after the leveller with the visitors enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
The best effort for the Merseyside outfit came through Elliott Taylor. Finding space behind the Rams defensive line, the number 9 could only slice his strike into the stands. Despite Harvey Whyte firing a free kick against the post at the end of the first half, the overall scoreline was reflective of the first half’s play.
After both sides squandered a series of gilt-edge chances in the first half, the second then failed to live up to the same level of excitement. Clear cut chances were few and far between. Both Raj Uppal for the Rams and the visitor’s Tom Beckett failed to find the net with their attempts from distance, while AFC’s Dan Mahaffey’s free kick drifted over the bar. The best chance came to AFC Liverpool’s Taylor again. Despite out-muscling Andy Teague, the striker could only fire wide of the target.
A point was looking the most likely result up until Hayhurst scored the winner in the 80th minute. From the left-hand side, the wing back’s effort trickled onto the post then over the line. With substitute Maine Walder reinstated to side after injury, his return gave Hayhurst license to frequent to an advanced forward role- a move the number three then took full advantage of.
His goal was worthy enough to keep the Rams top of the pile, a position they are now frequenting regularly this season.
Buoyed by Hayhurst’s winner, manager Wilkes expressed his delight as the Rams went five points clear, although did admit his side need to be more clinical in front of goal.
“We started on the front foot and could have been two, three nil up early on. If we started putting the ball in the back of the net a bit more often that would certainly help. On the other hand, they were one of the toughest teams we have played all season, so I am happy to come away with three points.”
Despite 6 more months of the season to be completed, the Rams have already played a remarkable 21 league games, or in simpler terms, have now almost hit the halfway point of the season. The manager outlined his frustration with the hectic fixture schedule which has seen his side play 23 games in less than three months.
“Thank goodness this hectic period is nearly over; the schedule has been ridiculous. We had to play in our away kit tonight as the home one isn’t even dry after Saturday. It is not just the players; all our staff have had to work above and beyond recently. We have played every week since the start of July.”
Wilkes did finish on a positive note, however.
“Thank you to all our players for their efforts recently. It is a completely different level to this time last year. Let’s go again in the FA Vase this coming Saturday against Euxton Villa.”
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Teague, S Sephton, Meadowcroft (Walder 77), Lynch (Putnam 69), L Sephton, Uppal (Camara 63), Whyte, Hoyle Not used: Ogunby, Tinker
Att: 219
