RAMS HIT TOP SPOT

Goalscorer Rhys Turner celebrates Rammy’s early opener with Maine Walder.

An early season green-pitch and comfortable temperatures offered Rams fans a chance to see whether the hard-won victory over a slick Irlam side on Tuesday was a realistic indicator to what may lie ahead. The Rams had points on the board with a healthy ten points from four games at the kick off.

The substitutes who saw out the Irlam game, one in which the Rams had to take the lead three times, before prevailing, claimed the limelight today.

A high tempo start meant the home crowd didn’t have to wait for something to cheer. Rhys Turner’s persistence and footwork allowed him to jink into the box and a fine finish across the keeper at the far post.

The goal, coming after only five minutes, set the tone for what was to develop into a most enjoyable afternoon from a home perspective.

The Rams were disciplined, composed and well-marshalled. A series of searching passes from Harvey Whyte allowed the wingers to cut loose and cause real problems. It was no surprise in the 20th minute when a delightful reverse-pass from Harvey Hayhurst once more released Turner who was able to take in his stride and smartly clip past Barry in the Burscough goal.

A further period of free flowing and enterprising football from the home side meant they were good value for a half time two nil lead.

Any fears that Burscough would regroup and come back into the game were dissipated within a couple of minutes when Oumar Camara – a scorer in midweek against Irlam – drove forward to finish emphatically with a hard low shot directly in front of a delighted home support.

A fourth arrived a few minutes later with a slightly bizarre goal. An in-swinging corner was clawed off the line by a crowded Kier Barry in the Burscough goal but only as far as the face of a fellow Burscough defender and deflected into the net.

Four nil to the good with half an hour remaining led to some astute management by Steve Wilkes. He withdrew the goal scorers to well-deserved applause and offer valuable game time to younger squad players.

One of them, Luke Jackson, came off the bench to give the Burscough defence a torrid time before falling to an eye-watering challenge clearly audible in the press box. The defender was lucky to escape with a yellow card.

The remainder of the game became something of an exhibition. Further chances fell to Radcliffe and Hayhurst while Rose had to be alert with a fine save to prevent a Burscough consolation.

Overall, an expansive performance by the Rams, who once more ran over to enjoy the acclaim from a delighted support at the final whistle and playing like this, the Rams will soon have supporters turning up in numbers again.

Rams manager Steve Wilkes was understandably happy with the display: “An excellent all-round performance from start to finish from the lads which was also really pleasing on the eye.

“We’re not getting carried away at all, we know we’ve got a tough local derby on Tuesday night at Colne and we’ll prepare right and give them the respect they deserve.

“Pleased to see Rhys Turner and Oumar Camara get on the scoresheet. It’s always nice when centre-forwards hit the back of the net.

“But onto Colne on Tuesday night as we hope to keep the good start going”.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Walder, Teague, S.Sephton (McEvoy 66mins), Winstanley, Hayhurst, L.Sephton (Soares 78mins), Camara (Chingwaro 66min), Whyte, Turner (Jackson 66mins) Sub not used: Hoyle