Khalil Osi-Efa’s sensational 95th minute goal on Saturday to clinch a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ossett United ensured the Rams completed their best ever league start to a season, with four wins from their opening four games.

It was level with the 1996/97 season start, when we lifted the North West Counties League Division 2 title on goal difference ahead of Haslingden, until Osi-Efa popped up to score the winner on Saturday.

Ken Bridge’s side had defeated Skelmersdale United 4-2 on the opening day, then beat Colne 4-1 the following Wednesday evening, followed by travelling to Ashton Town and win 3-0 and then the August Bank Holiday Monday game away at Tetley Walker which finished 1-1. Craig Chadwick was in prolific form with five goals in that spell while Russ Brierley (3), Martin ‘Tommy’ Hulme (2) and one each from Karl Stanley and Neil Rhodes set the Rams on their way.

But never before has a Rammy side kicked off a season with a perfect four wins! And it has been down to four goals from the outstanding Sefton Gonzales, two for Osi-Efa and Danny O’Brien and one each for Mason Fawns, Aaron Burns and Tony Donaldson, who scored his first for the club since February 2019 in the 6-0 win over Newcastle Town last season.

We did miss out on reaching that landmark of four wins at the start of last season, of course, having gotten past Widnes, Pickering Town and Trafford only to slide to a 2-0 away loss at Pontefract Collieries at the end of August 2019 – if we are still allowed to talk about records in the ‘null and void’ season.

The only other side to win three of their first four games was Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson’s men of 2011/12 – which also came in a Championship winning season, liftingthe NWCFL Premier Division title some six months later.

However, the wins over Glossop North End, AFC Blackpool and Atherton LR all came after losing the opening game away at St. Helens Town 3-2.

There is a trend here…. having a good start to a season. What would have happened in the 2019/20 season, no-one will ever know. But the previous times of at least three wins in the opening four games saw a Championship winning conclusion.

Four from four! It’s a great platform!

Thanks to Frank Crook for the photo via @RamsbottomUtd