Ramsbottom grab much needed win at home to Prescott Cables thanks to a Billy Hasler-Cregg screamer.
The Rams started the game with a real purpose in this one dominating the ball from the first minute. New man Ben Halfacre created the first chance of the game on four minutes when he turned his man with ease and put a teasing ball across the face of goal but Liam Hollett did fantastically well to turn it behind for a corner.
The hosts continued to dominate and create chances throughout the opening parts of the match without response from their opponents. Then on 26 minutes Rammy saw the ball hit the back of the net after James Murphy added the finishing touches to a beautiful Hasler-Cregg ball, but the linesman ruled it out for a very tight offside.
The opportunities continued to come for the home side and just on the brink of half time ex Bury AFC striker Ben Halfacre grabbed his first Rams goal to put his side ahead. A sensational through ball from Hasler-Cregg found the big number nine in “acres” of space and he smashed home giving Mitchell Allen absolutely no chance.
Rammy started the second half a goal to the good and Prescot looked determined to change that pushing for the equaliser. Ex Ramsbottom front man John Murphy went agonisingly close to getting his team level on 54 minutes but he some how smashed over the bar from 6 yards out.
This was a little wake up call for the home side and they began stringing positive passes together as they had in the first 45. On 66 minutes Halfacre should have doubled his rams goal tally and the score of the match when he flicked the ball over the head of James Devine giving himself a one on one, but he was unable to convert.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes the visitors really began to ramp up the pressure and they grabbed the leveler just through Harry Cannon-Noren eight minutes from time. The goal looked certain to be the last of game.
However, the Rams showed desire, determination and hunger to drag themselves back into the lead and just that they did through Billy Hasler-Cregg. The Ramsbottom number ten grabbed the ball on the right hand side and he drove into the box, as a gap opened up just in front of him 15 yards out from goal he unleashed an absolute rocket into the top right hand corner of the goal. A shot with such power and conviction that any keeper in the world would struggle to save.
With just five minutes left on the clock as the goal went in you could see the excitement and slight relief on the face of all the Rammy supporters, players and coaching staff. The hosts saw out the remaining five minutes of normal time plus the five minutes of added time in real style.
A game that Ramsbottom fully deserved to win. A total dominate display in the first half and dominate for large chunks of the second it was just the performance that everybody was wishing for against a strong Prescot side.
