DEFEAT SNATCHED FROM JAWS OF VICTORY

Luke Sephton is crowded out as the Rams looked for a first half breakthrough.

Friday Night Football under the lights and a terrific atmosphere as the groundhoppers from across the nation came to town. Football at this level is immersive and organic and it was a delight to hear accents from far and wide alongside regalia and badges displaying varied allegiances, at the Harry Williams stadium

For the Rams Luke Sephton and Maine Walder came back into the into the side, allowing Harvey Hayhurst to push further up the pitch. Hayhurst was instrumental in much of the action as the Rams were quick to set a high tempo and produced a series of passing moves.

Tom Hoyle headed wide after seven minutes and a number of occasions Mason, the St Helens keeper, dashed from his line as the ‘in the summertime’ anthem somewhat incongruously chimed around the ground. One of the best of a series of slick Rams attack saw Sephton flicking the ball just over the bar after a flowing move. At the other end, red clad St. Helens saw an acrobatic effort flash wide of the home goal after 42 minutes.

It was a surprise that half time arrived with no score, with everybody enjoying a pulsating match.

As the second half began, Rams were forced onto the back foot with a quick St Helens break forcing Oscar Radcliffe to lift the ball over his own crossbar to keep the scores level. The resulting corner came to nothing, and Rams charged down the left with Tom Hoyle advancing before squaring a well weighted pass into the path of Harvey Whyte in support. Whyte hit the ball hard and low and it appeared to go through the legs of Mason and bury itself into the net to give the Rams deserved lead.

The crowd responded and better was to come. On 55 minutes a high spinning ball in the box was anticipated by the predatory Hoyle who waited for it to drop before planting a lovely low volley past Mason and into the net in front of the delighted ultras for the second goal.

Two nil up and a buoyant crowd. On the face of it, an opportunity for the Rams to close out the game. In the last home game, however they had managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Stafford Town and, prior to that, thrown away a 2-0 home advantage against Longridge Town.

Just three minutes later an excellent towering header following a cross from the left, brought St Helens a lifeline and suddenly their team started to believe, especially as a series of substitutions gave them fresh legs all over the pitch.

It was no surprise on 73 minutes when a soft free kick to St Helens was not defended effectively and controlled in the box by the shirted visitors who calmly slotted past Andre Mendez, in the home goal, to bring the game level at 2-2.

Shocked, the Rams tried to respond but seemed to lose their shape and reverted to a series of aimless punts rather than the passing game characterised by off-the-ball movement which usually serves them so well. A clever lob from St Helens was cleared off the Rams goal line on 88 minutes to keep the scores level.

The home supporters foreboding, however became reality in injury time, with a wonder goal from the visitors. A deep cross towards the far side of the box was anticipated and then smashed back across Mendez and into the top corner of the Rams net. The St Helens team celebrated, not least their goalkeeper who’d been the recipient of prolonged banter from the Rams fans.

In recent weeks the Rams showed an Achilles heel in not gaining crucial points from winning positions – and the league table now shows a healthy lead for rivals Bury.

The ground hoppers were able to continue to enjoy the varied hospitality on offer in the bohemian enclave of Ramsbottom while the home fans commiserated with the deflated players at the end.

It’s been a great year although the prize of being league champions – which looked in their grasp for much of the first half of the season – might well elude them and leave the rather less appealing prospect of the play offs.

Manager Steve Wilkes was as frustrated as the supporters. “A disappointing night on the pitch,” he groaned. “We simply need to stop giving leads away when comfortable in the game.

“To be leading 2-0 with less than thirty minutes left in the game, then to go on to lose it, is criminal.”

Acknowledging that the players need to accept more responsibility, he added “The players know we need to be better at game management and that includes me and the staff”.

However, on a more positive note, he suggested “There’s still a long way to go in the season and I’m sure there’ll be more twists and turns as we get nearer the finishing line”.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Mendes, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Teague, Barlow, Walder, Tinker (Turner 66), Baker (Lynch 81), L Sephton (Walker 83), Whyte, Hoyle. Subs not used: Stacey, Winstanley

Att: 551