PRESTWICH HEYS PREVIEW
It is a quick turn around for the Rams as we make the short journey down the M66 into north Manchester on Saturday to face a Prestwich Heys side that are fighting for the own survival in the NWCFL Premier Division.
MATCH: Prestwich Heys v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: Adie Moran Park, Sandgate Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 6NT
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 29th March 2025
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: Adults £7, Concessions £4, U16 Free with a paying adult
OVERVIEW:
It was a comfortable trip over to South Liverpool on Wednesday night and the Rams headed for home with a 4-0 victory which closed the gap on second placed Lower Breck to four points. 90 points in the bag, our highest points tally since 2011/12 when we won NWCFL across 42 games with 96.
It has been often said that two points per game will see you right – we are averaging 2.14 points per game this season and the Rams are into the playoffs. In six of the higher PPG seasons the Rams have had, three of them resulted in league titles, two of them were curtailed by Covid-19 and the other was in 2010/11 in the NWCFL when we finished second behind New Mills and there were no play-offs (and if you are interested, the two seasons we reached the play-offs – 1.90 in 2013/14 when we won, 1.89 in 2018/19 when we didn’t).
With these numbers, you can certainly see what a season it has been and, of course, it is not over yet.
However, at the other end of the spectrum, Prestwich Heys have four games to save their season. In 22nd place on goal difference from Colne, every game is vital for their league status. Heys snapped a six game winless run with a huge 3-1 victory at Colne last Saturday which lifted them above their opponents and they come into this fixture hoping to build upon that.
There cannot be any let up from the Rams though. A top three finish is likely and therefore a home semi-final in the end of season shoot out but no chances can be taken and, with four wins in a row with just one goal conceded, scoring 10, the Rams are hitting form at the right time.
You always feel there is a kindred spirit between the Rams and Heys, having been old local rivals from the Manchester League days. There is lots of good feeling between the clubs and that will not change on Saturday afternoon, regardless of the result.
RAMS v PRESTWICH HEYS HISTORY
This is the second visit for the Rams to Adie Moran Park this season as we headed down back in December for a League Cup third round clash and hit five in the first half on the way to a 5-0 success (pictured above).
And we left it late to take all three points in the reverse league fixture in September when the Sephton brothers were both on the scoresheet either side of Erike Sousa’s 78th minute equaliser – Scott’s winning coming six minutes later.
However, last season it was all Heys though. No-one will forget the trip to Sandgate Road in September 2023 when the hosts won 3-0 and they doubled up at the HWRS in March of that season, taking a 4-2 success despite Harvey Hayhurst and Oscar Lucas’ goals.
We have even lost a friendly in July 2022 at AMP – we lost 3-0.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“I was pleased with our performance at South Liverpool on Wednesday night where we were thoroughly professional from start to finish.
“We had to make five changes from the game on Saturday and win so convincingly, shows the depth and quality we have in the squad.
“But now we move on to another really tough game away at Prestwich Heys, who are battling for the league survival so will come hard at us and we need to continue our good run of form to ensure we come away with a positive result.”
