PREVIEW – BURSCOUGH (A)
All aboard the Rammy Rocket! Time to fire the old girl up and hit the roads for nine of the next ten Rammy fixtures as we head into the end of the season run that is proving more and more crucial with every passing game, starting with a trip to West Lancashire and Burscough.
MATCH: Burscough v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: The Community Ground, Bobby Langton Way, Burscough, L40 0SW
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 16th March 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
DISTANCE FROM RAMMY: 53 minutes, 36 miles
ADMISSION: Adults £7, Concessions £5, U16s £3
OVERVIEW:
We have 12 more games to go. Twelve games that will define our season. The chances of reaching the play-offs are long gone, it is now all about keeping our heads above water. No-one knows what the FA nor the league have in store for the end of the season ups and downs. All that the Rams can do is battle hard and ensure they are not in any kind of danger.
We have 12 games to go. What the Rams do not want is a repeat of the last twelve where they have secured just seven points out of a possible 36. Two wins which brightened the skies, a draw at Litherland but otherwise, its a tale of defeat upon defeat. All of the last four have seen the opponents take all the points.
Those seven points have all come against sides from the west side of the NWCFL region and the Rams know that they must find some form against the side in 22nd place and in serious danger of joining their tenants in a downwards direction. They are fighting for their NWCFL Premier Division lives and have picked up superb draws at Gigg Lane 2-2 and at home to Prestwich Heys 1-1 so are definitely fighting like mad.
The rut that manager Steve Wilkes has mentioned has really taken a hold. The Rams need to start shaking that rut off with some huge games on the horizon including the away games at Bury, FC Isle of Man and Chadderton in the next week, all sides with much to play for as they target promotion or play-offs.
Yes, the Rams still have a plethora of games in hand but those will start to evaporate unless the red ‘L’ don’t start turning to green ‘W’ on the result chart on the website.
The last time we went to the Community Stadium, we humbled Skelmersdale United 6-2 back in September. Hopes were seriously high back then as the Rams were keeping firm tabs on the table toppers. However, since then, we won just five more games and are now down in 18th place, just seven points ahead of our hosts.
This isn’t a must win game … but it’s a must not lose.
HISTORY:
It was August 1997 that the Rams first faced up against Burscough in the NWCFL Division 1 and we lost both encounters, 0-3 at the Riverside and 0-1 at Victoria Park. But those are our only league defeats to the men in green and white as the Rams have won five of the last 7 games across the NPL Division 1 North and the meeting back in November in the NWCFL Premier.
The tally is six wins and three defeats in all competitions and the Rams lead 26-12 in the goal stakes.
If you need a reminder of the game back in November, here is Tony Cunnngham’s report from the 3-0 victory
MANAGER’S THOUGHTS
“Finally we have an away game, followed by another 4 on the road.
“I’m hoping a change of scenery can bring us a change of luck. We have been decimated with injuries these last few weeks, hopefully we’re slowly getting 1 or 2 back.
“Saturday sees us travel to Burscough who have improved so much under Dave Dempsey. Let’s hope we can fight our way out of this poor spell we have found ourselves in.”
