AFC LIVERPOOL PREVIEW
After a full week of dusting themselves off after the disappointment of not taking all three points at the HWRS on Saturday, the Rams head to Crosby to face mid-table AFC Liverpool as the season heads into the final dozen league games.
MATCH: AFC Liverpool v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: The Marine Travel Arena, College Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 3AS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 8th February 2025
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: Adults £7, Concessions £4 ,U16’s £2
DOGS POLICY: No dogs allowed in the ground
OVERVIEW:
So the Rams are four points behind in second place going into this match after throwing away a 2-0 lead on Saturday against Longridge Town and seeing rivals Bury complete two victories in the process, including a last minute winner on Tuesday night against FC Isle of Man.
There is still a very long way to go in this season but the Rams know they must around their slightly different form that has seen them win just three of their last seven games and also conceded two or more goals in their last four. That is the basic facts of the situation as it stands.
However, the Rams are still handily placed in second and play their game in hand next Tuesday night against Chadderton at home so know the importance of this game against AFC Liverpool, who are sat in 11th place with 52 points from their 35 games this season.
The Marine tenants have been on an indifferent run of form themselves with one win from their last six and four wins from their last 15 and only took a draw from struggling Squires Gate in midweek. If anyone knows that reading the stats and believing its a done deal is a fool, its Ramsbottom United after not defeating the deeply out of form Longridge on Saturday.
Hence why this game is crucial in the battle for top spot and with others breathing heavily down the necks – the likes of Lower Breck and Padiham to name but two and with the match against the Storks on the horizon in early March.
AFC Liverpool do have a good home record with nine wins from their 16 games on their shared Crosby base so this is a game that will not be taken lightly and with reinforcements, especially in goal with the signing of former Morecambe keeper André de Silva Mendes coming in a timely fashion, hopes remain high that this isn’t over just yet.
“They think it’s all over……” – it’s really not!!! 7 home games, 5 away. Strap yourselves in!!
HISTORY:
29 February 2012. Maybe one of the most pivitol dates in Ramsbottom United history. The Rams were away to AFC Liverpool, when they were playing at Prescot Cables’ Valerie Park ground. It was a cold, misty night and the Rams lost 2-1 when the hosts scored twice in the first 21 minutes through John Lawless and Steve Jones. Gary Stopforth’s 55th minute strike was not enough to turn the game around and the Rams had completed February with one point from a possible nine.
Promotion to the Northern Premier League dreams were hanging by a thread and managers Johnson and Morley sat in the bar with chairman Harry Williams and the legendary Eric Whalley late into the evening, so late that they were kicked out by the staff wanting to go home! They didn’t lose another league game, winning 12 out of the 13 and only dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Bootle.
And so here we are, in February playing AFC Liverpool once again (this time at Marine, of course).
This is the sixth time the sides have played each other and the Rams have won four and lost two. We did get the better of the Liverpool side in October last year courtesy of Harvey Hayhurst’s brace in the 2-1 success at the HWRS and the Rams stole a late win in August 2023 when we last played at the Marine Travel Arena when Matthew Dudley (87) and Harvey Whyte (89, pictured above) turned 2-1 down into a 3-2 win.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“To say we were disappointed on Saturday was an understatement and the players have been told that the last two performances, especially in the second half, are totally unacceptable.
“Everyone knows that goals win games and we should have gone in at half-time four or five in front but we left them into the game and paid the price.
“So we know how important this game against AFC Liverpool is and there are many twists and turns in these remaining 12 games to come. But our focus is on us and we dust ourselves down and focus firmly on our game against a good AFC Liverpool side.”
