PREVIEW – FC ISLE OF MAN (A)
In the words of the late, great John Denver … “we’re leaving on a jet plane”. The Rams take flight and head across the Irish Sea to play FC Isle of Man in our first ever ‘overseas’ trip. And we thought getting to Weymouth was a trek – we did that in a day though!!
MATCH: FC Isle of Man v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: The Bowl, Pulrose Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 1RB
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 23rd March 2024
KICK-OFF: 6:00pm
ADMISSION:
General admission £10, concessions (aged 12-16, students, over 60s, disabled) £5, juniors (age 5-11) £3, child (under 5) FREE.
OVERVIEW:
An evening game on the Manx Island is the Rams’ next task as the away day run continues and after yet another aborted trip to Gigg Lane – for a remarkable third time, considering that ground used to be a football league ground, it is quite something – Steve Wilkes’ side are forced into another rearrangement which continues to concertina the remaining fixtures!
It is funny that our next few fixtures are Saturday at 6pm, Tuesday at 7.45pm, Friday at 1.30pm, Monday at 3pm, Wednesday at 7.45pm, Saturday at 3pm, another Tuesdayer at 7.45pm and a Thursday at 7.45pm! 7 different times in our next eight games …. only missing a game on a Sunday – we had one of those in the league earlier in the season at home to Longridge.
And so, the magical mystery tour takes us across the Irish Sea to face 14th place Isle of Man on their 3G pitch at The Bowl, who have won three and lost three of their last six games and sit on 52 points, 11 points ahead of their evening visitors although we do have a couple of games in hand.
Probably unsurprisingly, they have been good at home with 10 wins and one draw (and eight defeats) on their home patch while the Rams have enjoyed just five wins on their travels out of 15. Yep, we do still have seven away games to play!
The Rams could really do with a win just to ease any niggling doubts about what the FA might throw at the league come the end of the season. We are in 18th place and will stay there even if we do win. However, a defeat and it opens the door to slip down to 20th. Such is the need for a victory to just keep the devils at bay.
It is a 6pm kick-off and all support will be much appreciated making the trip across the Seas. 17 of us made it to Weymouth for that memorable FA Trophy game in 2019 … it’s not that far to Isle of Man!!!
HISTORY:
This is our first ever trip to the Isle of Man and we are very much looking forward to it.
We won the game way back in August when Conal Gallagher’s 95th minute strike gave the Rams all three points to get the season off the ground in match number two after Maine Walder opened the scoring after three minutes and Dean Pinnington’s levels just before the 90 minute mark.
If you want to remember that game again, here is Will Place’s match report.
STEVE WILKES’ THOUGHTS:
“This weekend sees the boys fly across the water for a game away in the Isle of Man.
“It’s a great weekend if you can get the right result, which we’ll obviously be trying to achieve. Unfortunately players have made themselves unavailable due to work and other commitments, along with Maine Walder and Roman Allen being suspended means we won’t be going with a full strength side, but it gives the lads that have been waiting for a chance, the chance to prove themselves.
“We know the strength that the Isle of Man possesses and we’ll have to be on our guard. If we can play like we did first half away at Burscough last week, then we’ll give ourselves a good chance.
“I’d just like to wish all the travelling Rammy fans a safe journey across and look forward to seeing you over there.”
