FC ST HELENS PREVIEW
After a lengthy break from league action, the Rams go head-long into their final ten games of the season by welcoming both FC St Helens to the HWRS for the very first time and a great many who are treking around the NWCFL as part of the GroundHop Weekend – which kicks off with our game on Friday night.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs FC St Helens
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Friday 28th February 2025
KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult) – CASH ONLY
PARKING:
Please note that due to the commencement of works on the old Mondi mill site off Bridge Street there’ll be no parking on Acre Bottom Lane on the approach to the cricket and football clubs. Please make use of alternative parking and be mindful of residents and restrictions.
OVERVIEW:
Much has happened since we eased past Chadderton over a fortnight ago. The league table still sees the Rams in second place with two games in hand over the leaders Bury, who have opened up a seven point lead. Lower Breck are third, five points back with a game in hand and then four clubs are clumped together on 66 points!
Just two more months of league action remains and there is still so much to be decided with thrills and spills aplenty on the horizon – who will be the one promoted side and who will make up the four play-off berths. It’s wide open!
One thing is for certain though, the Rams are in terrific shape and, with just four defeats all season and only one of those at home, the six we have remaining at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium might just be key.
The first of the six comes against FC St Helens, who are sat in eighth place in the ladder, eight points shy of the play-off line but the progressive side from Merseyside will be hoping to keep their own desires of being at the end of season party alive.
However, with just one win from their last four games, they have dropped off the pace a little and with one win from their last eight on the road, they travel to the HWRS hoping to regain some of the form that has seen them challenge.
We met for the first time back in sunny August and came away from Windleshaw with a 3-0 success thanks to goals from Tom Hoyle and both of the Sephton brothers while the home side were reduced to 10 men late in the game.
Of course, tonight is the first of the NWCFL Groundhop 2025 games with passionate hoppers planning their four games tomorrow at Stockport Georgians, Stockport Town, New Mills and Glossop North End before Sunday’s double of Abbey Hey and Droylsden! We welcome everyone who is joining us for this excellent event organised by the league.
We sell tea in a proper mug! And our pie and peas is fantastic! Welcome one and all.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“We have had a great week off but we will now come back focused and ready for the final 10 games of the season over the next eight weeks.
“It was disappointing to be knocked out of the Macron Cup last week against Stafford Town as we didn’t play well, given we should have been out of sight before they equalised but fair play to them.
“It is something that we have discussed and want to put right ahead of the run in. We have kept tabs on the other results but we can only concentrate on ourselves.”
