MATCH: Ramsbottom United v Newcastle Town
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division
DATE: Saturday 23rd October 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).
OVERVIEW:
It has been two long weeks on the road but the Rams finally head for home comforts, hoping to turn around their poor run of form that has seen them slip to 12th in the NPL West table.
Standing in their way are Newcastle Town, themselves not enjoying a bountiful season, sitting a couple of places behind us in 14th. There is much to play for.
For the Rams, it is a change in fortunes, a change in momentum and a change in finding the net that is needed.
And with two new signings, both bonafide strikers, that should mark the intention to make those amendments with prolific Kendal Town captain Hugo Rodriguez and Glossop North End attacker John Murphy both putting pen to paper this week.
They are certainly needed given our current goal tally of two in the last seven games – one from the penalty spot and Steve Hoy’s headed equaliser at Pickering Town.
Manager Lee Donafee has not been scared to make wholesale changes but the inclusion of two front men, a position where has been sorely lacking in recent weeks, could make all the difference.
But up against them are the men from Staffordshire, unbeaten in the last five visits to the HWRS dating back to 2006 and a side we have a really poor record against.
They are without a league win in the last three but did hold league leaders Workington to a 1-1 draw at home last Saturday.
It promises to be another testing game for the Rams but, with fresh faces aplenty, positivity is creeping into the camp.
STAT OF THE PREVIEW:
The Rams have not scored a league goal in their last five games – a club record in the semi-professional era.
LEAGUE FORM GUIDE (most recent game first):
Ramsbottom United: L L L D L L
Newcastle Town: D L D W L D
HISTORY:
You can read all about the history between the Rams and Newcastle Town in our comprehensive “Have We Met” article, which is below:
TEAM NEWS:
“We will require maximum effort from all involved, including the great Rammy crowd”, said the manager ahead of Saturday’s game.
“We are still going through a tough time and although our performances have been ok, the results haven’t reflected this.”
That much is certainly true and he goes into Saturday’s game without his captain Tom Kennedy, who is unavailable and the injured duo of Godwin Abadaki, Joel Earps and Khalil Osi-Efa.
But he is boosted by the arrival of John Murphy and Hugo Rodriguez up front and Donafee is hoping for much more from his charges.
“I will be after a competitive performance and hoping the chances we create will be taken as this is what has been letting us down of late.
“What we need is the Rammy crowd in good voice, supporting us all the way and we will need to feed off them.
“We know Newcastle will also be up for the game as they are on a decent run but we are desperate for a win and a performance for the club as a whole and to hopefully turn our luck around.”
