MATCH: Ramsbottom United v Market Drayton Town
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom
DATE: Saturday 28th August 2021
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League Division 1 West
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
TEA-BAR: Open from 1.30pm – 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:
The game on Saturday will mark another major milestone for the club as the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium hosts a competitive fixture on a Saturday for the first time since the 31 October 2020 and with a win in the last game up at Kendal Town, there could be a sense of optimism sweeping its way around the ground.
And with it being the start of the late August Bank Holiday as well, with two matches to look forward to – Saturday’s at home to Market Drayton Town and then Monday’s short hop down the M60 to Mossley – there is a very good chance to build on Tuesday night.
So we welcome our visitors from Market Drayton to the HWRS for the second time, the first being the opening fixture of the 2018/19 season – the only season we have played each other.
Our win in the Lakes has given us a 1-1-1 league record so far and lifted us up to ninth place in the early table.
The Shropshire based visitors sit in 12th with a victory and two defeats thus far – their victory coming on the opening day of the season, a 1-0 success over Prescot Cables but they have endured three defeats since to Widnes and 1874 Northwich in the league and an FA Cup exit at Sporting Khalsa.
With it being a Bank Holiday, the Ramsbottom town centre might be busy with day trippers so please do plan your journey and parking arrangements well ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
The Cricket Club pavilion and bar will be open as the Women’s XI have a league fixture starting at 1pm – so this may well also take up car parking places next to the ground so we urge you to think ahead if you are coming to the game.
STAT OF THE PREVIEW:
The Rams have lost just one Saturday home league game since 23 March 2019 – that is 16 games and 14 wins with one draw against Kidsgrove Athletic and a 3-4 loss to Marine on 2 November 2019.
HISTORY:
You can read all about the history between the Rams and Market Drayton Town in our comprehensive “Have We Met” article, which is below.
TEAM NEWS:
“Yesssssss get in there” was manager Lee Donafee’s reaction on Tuesday evening after his charges turned in a superb performance in getting their season off and running thanks to goals from Jake Thompson and James Murphy.
Centre back defender Steve Hoy was given his debut after signing from fellow NPL 1 West side Bootle as the manager continues to use his Liverpudlian roots to strength the side.
“Pull me down if you can, I am buzzing after Tuesday,” he told RamsbottomUnited365 on Friday. “2-1 flattered them really, it could have been more but we were brilliant and everything that we have been working on came off.
“But if we lose tomorrow, it will count for nothing and we are going out to go after them and get another win.
“I have got really hungry lads in the squad, lads who want to play for Ramsbottom United and that is all that I ask. I am leaving some loyal lads, who have been great for us, out tomorrow, some with a view to Monday and some for tactical reasons.”
He has stated that Jamie Rother and Godwin Abadaki are both back in the squad having missed the trip to Kendal Town through injury but Khalil Osi-Efa and Joel Earps both sit out, as does Ethan Beckford.
“We have got two games in three days, so I have to manage the team for both games,” he added.
“Cam Collins is in the squad and will likely get his debut for Tom Glover – he is an exciting 21-year-old Rammy lad who I am looking forward to seeing.”
On Market Drayton Town, he sticks to his guns on concentrating firmly on what Ramsbottom United can do. “They are going to give us a hard game, every game is hard but we are seriously coming together now so the league better watch out.”
His final comment was to thank the fans for making the effort to get to Kendal on Tuesday night. “The fans were brilliant and I can’t thank them enough. You could hear them, they got right behind the lads and the result was reward for us and for them.”
