DEPLETED RAMS UNSTUCK AT BRECK
Tom Hoyle forces a good save from the Lower Breck keeper.
Over to Liverpool for the Rams as their title ambitions were tested in this North West Counties version of a crunch top of the table encounter.
Experienced players slotted in but the Rams went into this one without the regular services offered by the likes of skipper Andrew Teague, Richie Baker, Luke Sephton, Rhys Turner and talismanic goalkeeper Brad Rose.
Harvey Hayhurst did come back into the side though, along with midfielder Tom Walker who made his second debut for the club following his move back from Charnock Richard.
Things did start brightly enough for the blue-shirted visitors with Tom Hoyle sprinting down the right-hand side before firing a low hard shot which was well saved by the feet of home ‘keeper Theo Roberts.
Unfortunately, the Rams didn’t build upon this momentum and it was Lower Breck who seemed to be first to every 50-50 challenge as the game became more attritional and a series of adverse decisions went against the visitors, to the ire of their substantial support.
The home side gradually forced their way into the game with their hard-working, effective football and it was no surprise when they took the lead. On 17 minutes a move down the right led to a dinked cross into the box with defensive hesitation allowing former Ram, Tom Croughan, to slide past Davis and into net for the opener.
Worse was to follow for the Rams as they struggled to gain a foothold into the match, and the second goal duly followed. Another move down the right on 37 minutes saw a cross into the box hammered into the roof of the net by Jesse Dowling for two-nil, no more than the home side deserved.
The Rams’ frustration was summed up in a moment when a free kick in a promising position took an age jockeying for position and tactical advantage that ultimately led to the free kick being ballooned over the bar and out of the ground.
Rams predictable and ponderous style, with aimless punts relieving the pressure, was briefly enlivened by their best player, Tom Hoyle. Just before half time Hoyle sprinted into space and cleverly sidestepped the defender in the box and fired in a powerful shot. Roberts reacted well and made a fine reflex save to prevent a potential lifeline at a crucial moment.
The resigned travelling supporters’ faces at half time indicated that they knew their team was misfiring and would be lucky to escape a heavy mauling – particularly disappointing as the Rams’ cherished unbeaten league run stretched all the way back to early September.
In the second half the familiar pattern resumed albeit with Rams slightly more lively but struggling to get their passing game effective and just isolated shots.
A revival never looked likely, and with twenty minutes remaining the Rams misery was compounded following a well-worked home move down the left, leading to a hard driven cross flashing across the box. The resulting first time volley at the far post struck Walder’s already outstretched arm from close range, the ref blew for a penalty and produced a red card too. The eventual spot kick was smashed in by Sam Burns for a three-nil lead to the home side.
Owen Collinge was serenaded by the travelling support as he became the third ex-Ram to appear for the home side as a series of substitutions followed but it was a damage limitation exercise now as the visitors fell to a heavy defeat – one about which they could have no complaints – on a cold grey day.
Manager Steve Wilkes cut a disconsolate figure after the game: “Tough day at the office. Going to Lower Breck at any time in the season is always tough, so to go there missing five big players was always going to be a hard ask.
“Take nothing away from Lower Breck though who fully deserved their win.
“We dust ourselves down and prepare for another tough fixture on Tuesday night.”
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Davis, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Lynch, Barlow, Walder, Stacey (Winstanley 45mins), Walker (Tinker 71mins), Uppal (Camara 75mins), Whyte, Hoyle (Evans 75mins). Sub not used: Ogunby
Att: 180
