The second home game of the week for Ramsbottom brings them another tough test. David Chadwick will have been encouraged by his sides first half performance on Tuesday night and will be hoping that they can emulate that for the remainder of season starting with Bootle tomorrow.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Bootle
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Bridge street, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: Northern Premier League West Division
DATE: Saturday 25th February 2023
KICK-OFF: 3pm
Admission:
You can pay on the gate – CASH ONLY – adults £9, concessions £5, students (age 17-18) £6, Children under 12 £1 (with a paying adult). Pie and Peas available throughout the afternoon – and tea and coffee in a proper mug! Programmes are £2 each (you can find these just before the turnstile).
Overview:
Ramsbottom come into this one off the back of another encouraging performance. A first half that showed real quality and a second where the lads had to dig deep a man down, but the truth is that we are still in search of our first three points of the year and we know that it has to change soon if we are to have any chance of staying up.
In this one we come up against a team who aren’t in much better form than ourselves and it is the perfect opportunity for us to turn our fortunes around and try and get a league double over them. Bootle have taken five points from their previous six games in the league drawing two, winning one and losing three. However, amongst that average form they were able to beat third place Workington away from home.
Rammy will be hoping to start this game as they started the game against Clitheroe. In the three games that Bootle have lost in recent times they have conceded five of the six goals in the first 45 minutes, so scoring first for the hosts could definitely be key. David Chadwick has been able to bring a few new faces into the club despite the fact he is still in the infancy of his tenur but the players we have seen him bring in so far have had a fine start and hopefully they can continue to push on and help keep our club in this league.
History:
You may remember that the website used to run an article called “Have We Met?” Where you can check out the history between the two clubs.
However more recently Bootle got the better of us twice last season. The first encounter between the teams came on 25th September 2021 where the Rams were absolutely trounced 5-0. The second meeting came on the 15th January 2022 when the Rams found themselves in the lead at half time thanks to a Godwin Abadaki goal. However, the visitors took the lead with two quick fire second half goals but Rammy managed to claw it back through a headed effort from Owen Collinge. Bootle then went on to nick it at the death leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the Ramsbottom players and fans.
The previous encounter between the teams earlier this season was certainly one to remember as Rammy managed to end their 404 day wait for an away victory thanks to goals from James Murphy and Leon Johnson.
Managers thoughts:
“It has been real mixed emotions after the first week at the club, we have had two hard fought games and I really can’t complain about the effort and work rate that the lads have been putting in for me and Jimmy. However, at this part of the season though points are more important than performances so it can hurt me to say I would have taken a below par performance if it meant getting the three points.
“We really took the game to Clitheroe on Tuesday night and hopefully the fans can see what we’re trying to build even in our infancy at the club. The sending off I thought affected us massively and certainly put them on the front foot. We did battle back into the game but it just wasn’t enough in the end.
“The spirits in the dressing room are still high and we welcome another strong team to us on Saturday that we know we have got to be at our best against to get the much needed three points.”
Come on you Rams!
