BURSCOUGH PREVIEW
Four down and still unbeaten, third in the fledgling league table, one of the six teams without a defeat to their name so far. Things are looking good at Ramsbottom Towers at the moment and its time for our first Saturday home league game of the season, with Burscough coming to town.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Burscough
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 17th August 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult)
OVERVIEW:
The Rams were forced to battle hard in midweek by a determined Irlam side that equalised twice through the game and were finally undone by substitute Oumar Camara’s goal to give the Rams all three points. It has proven that the team has some steel about them, some grit to pull up the sleeves and get the job done.
And it is very pleasing to see. Four games in, no defeats, 11 goals scored and just four conceded. Joint second place in the early league table behind Charnock Richard and level with Chadderton, there is plenty to be encouraged about, even this early in the season.
Next up for the Rams is Burscough, who endured a difficult season but came through it to close in 20th place with 44 points, a sizeable 12 points clear of their tenants at the Community Ground, Skelmersdale United (who have lost all five of their games in Division One North this season too).
They showed some steel of their own to ensure they weren’t sucked into the relegation mire, losing just one of their last eight games last year including that crazy afternoon against the Rams in mid March where the Rams eased into a 3-0 half-time lead, a lead that was held until the 63rd minute … and then … well, Burscough scored three in the space of ten minutes and took a share of the spoils!
We are old friends, the Rams and the Linnets. The first ever meeting came in August 1997 at the Riverside with Burscough running out 3-0 winners and completed the double that season, taking a 1-0 victory at Victoria Park. Last season, the Rams won 3-0 (goalscorer Kuda Chingwaro pictured above) in the first meeting between the sides in six years from back in the NPL Division 1 North days!
Burscough currently sit in 10th place in the early table with two wins over Squires Gate and West Didsbury & Chorlton but lost to Charnock Richard in midweek 3-1, a second league defeat after their opening day 1-0 reverse at Longridge Town.
Just a reminder that there is cricket on across the other side of the fence with Ramsbottom’s 3rd XI taking on Great Harwood 3rds, starting at 1pm. So, parking may be a little busier than normal. But why not come along and watch some of the game beforehand – and make a day of it!
STEVE WILKES’ THOUGHTS:
“Tuesday night was the most pleasing win of the season. We didn’t play that well and were probably second best for large parts of the game but I saw another side to the players, one that we didn’t have last season.
“We just need to take that into Saturday’s game with Burscough, who have shown their own grit and determination this season, and the back end of last season. This will be a hard game, for sure, but if we play the way that we have of late, we can get the result again.”
