MATCH: Ramsbottom United v Colne
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom
DATE: Tuesday 7th September 2021
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League Division 1 West
KICK-OFF: 7.45pm
TEA-BAR: Open from 6.30pm – for our famous Pie and Peas and hot and cold drinks, including cups of tea or coffee in a real mug!
ADMISSION:
You can pay on the gate – adults £9, concessions £5, children under 12 £1 (with a paying adult).
OVERVIEW:
They always say that momentum is a key factor in sport. With three wins from the last three competitive games, Lee Donafee’s side certainly have that but there has been a break of eight days since the superb 3-0 win over Mossley on Bank Holiday Monday so there could be a concern that the momentum delivered over the course of the previous seven days might have been diluted.
And that is probably not what you want when you come up against local rivals Colne – a side that have had the Indian sign over the Rams over the course of the last few seasons.
This is a difficult one to call as Nathan Rooney’s charges have won just one of their four league games played to date – a 2-0 victory over bottom side Kendal Town but are still in the FA Cup after a stunning 1-0 success at Stalybridge Celtic, courtesy of an own goal which has set them up with a home game with Guiseley in the second qualifying round.
The Rams are currently fifth in the table, five points behind the early leaders Workington who are unbeaten thus far from five games. That will make next week’s trip to Borough Park all the more interesting, that is for sure. Colne are down in 12th with five points from four starts.
Kick off is at 7.45pm and supporters are urged to get to the club early. The Cricket Club pavilion bar will be open while you can also savour the atmosphere at the ground before the start by visiting the famous tea bar!
And you can listen to commentary of this match on Roch Valley Radio here https://www.rochvalleyradio.com.
STAT OF THE PREVIEW:
Maybe we shouldn’t dwell on this one for too long and records are there to be broken but the Rams have lost their last six meetings with Colne, dating back to the start of 2017 scoring two goals in the process and conceding 15! Time for that run to be ended!!!
HISTORY:
You can read all about the history – including much about the run mentioned above – between the Rams and Colne in our comprehensive “Have We Met” article, which is right here:
TEAM NEWS:
It has been a frustrating break in the season for the team, especially on the back of a three-match winning streak over the course of seven days, but that has not affected things too much in terms of readiness for the Colne challenge on Tuesday night.
But manager Lee Donafee was in confident mood ahead of the game as he starts to be able to field his strongest possible squad.
“The lads are in a good place at the moment, despite the break,” he said, “but we know it will be a tough game against a good Colne side, who come into this game after a good result on Saturday in the FA Cup.”
Having fielded the same 16-player squad in the Bank Holiday fixtures, he is not envisaging too many changes to that for this game.
“The two Jamie’s [Rother and Rainford] have benefited from the break and have got themselves back to pretty much full fitness, as we had to manage them in the holiday games so we should have a full strength squad to select from.”
As always with Lee, he is full concentrating on how Rammy set up. “We want to keep our run going and playing Colne will be hard work but I am concentrating on us and how we are.”
Two of Donafee’s squad have gone out on loan – Ethan Beckford is currently at Ashton Athletic, getting some valuable game time and has scored twice in his first two games for the yellows while Tom Glover has switched to Litherland REMYCA for a spell. We have lost Ollie Martin though as he has left the club and signed for NPL Premier outfit Ashton United – we wish him very well. A full article about Ollie’s departure is below.
