LITHERLAND PREVIEW
Seven games to go and four of them are at home so here is the first of a brace at the HWRS as we welcome Litherland REMYCA, as we look to go back-to-back with league victories after the success at Charnock Richard last weekend.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Litherland REMYCA
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 15th March 2025
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
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:
The Rams halted their recent trio of defeats run with a fairly comfortable 2-0 win over Charnock Richard last week. It was much needed as the end of season race to the line intensifies.
We now find ourselves ten points adrift of the league leaders Bury with a game in hand but a point shy of Lower Breck in second, who have an extra game to play. 12 points separates us from Irlam in sixth place, who have had a point deducted from their tally. In reality, the Rams need six more points from the next seven games to seal a play off berth – seven will make absolutely sure!
Standing in the way on Saturday are Litherland REMYCA, who, you can certainly say, have had mixed fortunes in the last two games – a 7-0 defeat at Gigg Lane a fortnight ago was followed by a 0-0 draw with high flying Padiham at home seven days later. We complete the quad of top five placed clubs they have faced in the last three weekends – they also drew 1-1 at home to West Didsbury and Chorlton.
Down in 19th place in the table but clear of any potential relegation danger, the Liverpool-based side travel hoping to end their own horrors on the road – they have just one win from 18 games away from their Litherland Sports Park home – that came back in August at Abbey Hey when James Hammill’s hat-trick gave them a 3-1 win. Despite their lowly league position, Hammill has 26 goals, the joint fourth leading scorer this season.
However, three home losses in a row for the Rams, two of which in the league against FC St Helens and Padiham, have made things a little nervy in the Rammy camp and will give our visitors a little bit of hope despite their record – but with just a single home league loss prior to that, hopefully that run has come to its conclusion!
There is still a long way to go in this race to the promotion line – what’s going to happen? Its still very much in the unknown!
HISTORY
This is just the fourth meeting between the two sides and the Rams have won two and drawn one of the previous three.
The first meeting was over at Litherland in January 2024 when Elliot Taylor’s 98th minute equaliser gave the hosts a share of the spoils after Matthew Dudley’s 70th minute opener.
However, the Rams got their revenge for that smash and grab a month later with a thumping 5-1 success at the HWRS thanks to Luke Sephton and Matthew Birchall’s doubles (pictured above) following Luke Jackson’s opener and there was to be no repeat of the last minute reprieve when the Rams travelled east back in October 2024 when Sephton was at it again with a hat-trick this time, sandwiching Oscar Radcliffe’s strike just before the break.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“I was really pleased with the performance, we never looked in any danger across the match.
“We looked solid in defence and a real threat every time we went forward so that was particularly pleasing.
“However, we have to maintain that level of performance in the remaining seven games to see where that takes us and we have had a good week to prepare for what will be a tough game against Litherland, who played very well to hold Padiham last weekend.”
