MATCH: Trafford v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: Home Estates Shawe View Stadium, Flixton, M41 5DL
COMPETITION: Northern Premier League West Division
DATE: Bank Holiday Monday 27th December 2021
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
DISTANCE FROM RAMMY: 19 miles, 28 minutes
ADMISSION:
Tickets are available for this game either on line via this link … https://www.shocal.org/business/shop?sid=34&Trafford%20FC – or on the gate, £8 adults, £5 concessions and £2 for Under 16s.
OVERVIEW:
Merry Christmas to everyone, supporters, followers, players, managerial team and all involved with our great club.
But, as always, with this time of the year comes the annual opportunity to escape the turkey and nibbles and head out for a festive footy fix, this year sees the Rams heading down the M66 and around the M60 to Flixton where our old friends Trafford await.
And off the back of a very hard fought 1-0 victory over City of Liverpool last Saturday and a thoroughly enjoyable night out to celebrate, the players are firmly back in game mode and even squeezed in a quiet friendly with Prestwich Heys last Tuesday night with Jake Thompson slotting twice and Domaine Rouse a third as the experimental side, containing a handful of trialists and players from the Academy, went down 4-3 at Adie Moran Park.
Our hosts, currently sat in seventh place just three points shy of the play-off places, are fresh off a 1-0 loss themselves away at Colne last weekend and have won just two of their last eight league games and one of their previous five – an excellent 2-1 victory over fellow play-off chasers Leek Town.
Trafford have won six of their 10 home games this season, losing just one, a 5-2 loss to 1874 Northwich in mid November so the home side will be confident of a victory against Rammy side whose away form of two wins from 10 on the road and just seven goals scored certainly leaves plenty to be desired.
However, with this being the final fixture of 2021 – our next game being the New Year’s Day encounter at home to Mossley – manager Lee Donafee will be preparing his charges to build on Saturday’s win and go into the New Year with a spring in the step and, as he mentioned in his post match interview after Saturday, the play-offs are not that far away with a favourable wind and some positive performances in the New Year, anything could happen.
The Rams start the day in 13th place – a good win could take them into the top ten and those play-offs edge ever closer. And the Rams have won the last three meetings, who of which came at Shawe View.
STAT OF THE PREVIEW:
There has been 22 previous league meetings between Trafford and Ramsbottom United – and how about this for a record!! Trafford have won 9. Rammy have won 9. Trafford have scored 30 goals and Rammy have scored 30 goals! The perfect record.
LEAGUE FORM GUIDE (most recent game first):
Ramsbottom United: W L L W W L
Trafford: L W D L L W
HISTORY:
You can read all about the history between the Rams and Trafford in our comprehensive “Have We Met” article, which is below:
TEAM NEWS:
Manager Lee Donafee was feeling in good shape ahead of the game on Saturday, especially giving the players who had not featured so much of late a chance to play on Tuesday night in the match against Prestwich Heys.
“It has been a good week for us all,” he said on Friday ahead of the game on Monday. “We were supposed to train but Heys got in touch and asked if we fancied a game. We accepted, really for the sake of the lads around the squad and also a few of the Academy youngsters. It benefits everyone to give them game time so we played Tom in goal first half and then the U16 Academy keeper in the second – it was definitely worthwhile.”
Looking ahead to the Trafford match, he was very keen not to make too many changes to the squad that performed well against City of Liverpool last time out.
“But we may bring a player in, we will take a loan player at the moment but I am working on maybe something more permanent, but will have to see how it goes.
“We still have quite a few players out – Khalil and Joel are injured but Godwin is nearing full fitness now and Eddie took a knock but he should be ok for Monday.
“There are a few players out on loan and they are all playing well and impressing so are continually pressing for a look in, which is good news for us.”
He concluded the preview by wishing all a very Merry Christmas and is looking forward to seeing you all on Monday down at Trafford.
