MATCH: Ramsbottom United v Clitheroe
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division
DATE: Saturday 4th December 2021
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
ADMISSION:
You can pay on the gate – 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!
OVERVIEW:
There is a phrase that when you fall off your bicycle, the best thing to do is get back on it straight away and keep going. After last Saturday’s game, the best thing for the Rams is to draw a line, put it into the history books and move on swiftly.
Last Saturday’s game at Warrington Rylands was ‘one of those days’, heavily hindered by the early red card and a team on the up taking full advantage to send the Rams to their worst ever defeat.
Naturally, everyone, from the top of the club right the way through to the players, manager, coaches and supporters, were bitterly disappointed but Saturday’s game is time to move on and refocus once more.
It certainly will not be easy against a Clitheroe side who are unbeaten in their last six games and sit second in the current form table and fourth overall with 33 points from 17 games – six points behind leaders Marine.
With our near neighbours coming to town, it will see a number of familiar faces return through the gates at the HWRS – including player-manager Billy Priestley, keeper Chris Thompson and outfielders Richie Baker, Danny Wilkins and Sefton Gonzales.
But there is a real need, as the festive celebrations edge ever closer, for the Rammy faithful to get behind the lads and get the team back on the rails for this big home, relatively, local ‘derby’ game.
STAT OF THE PREVIEW:
The Rams are sixth in the ‘home’ table this season, having won five of our 8 home games with only Warrington Rylands have scored more than our 20. However, Clitheroe have not lost in seven away games this season, winning five.
LEAGUE FORM GUIDE (most recent game first):
Ramsbottom United: L W W L W L
Clitheroe: W W W D W D
HISTORY:
You can read all about the history between the Rams and Clitheroe in our comprehensive “Have We Met” article, which is below:
TEAM NEWS:
With Khalil Osi-Efa and Joel Earps continuing on the sidelines through injury, the Rams are boosted by the return of Jake Thompson, who missed the Rylands match.
George Wyatt will also miss the match as he serves his one match suspension following the red card last weekend and Jordan Downing, who has been playing at Bury AFC this season on a dual registration, has been called in the squad.
The Rams have also made a signing, who will be announced later today.
Lee mused over last Saturday. “We started the game well and should have scored but having the man sent off after 12 minutes and our own mistakes led to our downfall,” he said.
“I don’t even thinking shuffling the pack would have done anything on that game so we have worked hard this week in training and have thrown a question to the lads – who is up for the fight?
“You never foresee a result like that and I don’t foresee it happening again.
“We have a good record at home this season but the focus for us is to show a reaction. It is as simple as that, we need a reaction from the lads.
“No one likes losing but there are ways of losing and what could have gone wrong last week, went wrong. Only a few of the players can hold their heads high after that game, the rest needed to hand theirs.
“That was last week, we must see a good, solid reaction on Saturday.”
