RAMS SECURE TOP FOUR SPOT
Harvey Hayhurst scores the only goal of the game in the 21st minute.
Harvey Hayhurst’s 21st minute strike was enough to seperate the teams and, in the process, secure a top four spot for the Rams and a place in the end of season play offs.
A delayed kickoff at the Riverside stadium in Ramsbottom on Saturday as over 500 fans queued in celebration of non-league football; The visitors high flying West Didsbury and Chorlton.
Those making the journey from leafy South Manchester enjoyed a match with the backdrop of a valley setting, renewable power generators turning, a heritage railway operating behind one goal – and Victorian tower guarding the area on high from dramatic Holcombe Hill.
White-clad West offered tricky opposition and, like the Rams, are chasing a play-off place. They started brightly, creating a series of chances, the best saw an arching effort come back off the home crossbar with home keeper Andre Mendes beaten.
West continued to press hard with the home side repeatedly putting the ball into the air to relieve the building pressure and weather the storm.
Both sets of supporters were in fine voice enjoying a pulsating and intriguing contest with moments of slick interplay coupled with robust challenges and a series of injuries not least to Harry Winstanley. He was replaced after a quarter of an hour by new-signing centre-half Glenn Matthews who slotted seamlessly into the Rams pattern of play.
After twenty minutes, a series of headers took the blue-clad home side up the pitch before a cleverly guided one from Luke Sephton eventually brought the ball down and into the path of Harvey Hayhurst. The in-form winger had beaten the offside trap with a clever run and advanced into the box before composing himself and firing a confident shot past former Ram, Olly Martin, and into the net to the delight of his teammates and home supporters.
Buoyed by this breakthrough, the home side started to take a grip on the game and were unlucky when Tom Hoyle saw his shot blocked. A dangerous free kick from Harvey Whyte reared up on the hard pitch to cause Martin problems as the Rams looked to build upon their lead. A trademark in-swinging corner from Maine Walder also caused near panic in the away defence before eventually being cleared.
Didsbury came back into the game and just before half time with a free kick in a dangerous position which Mendes, as had Martin, on the unpredictable surface, struggled to read. As the ball broke West followed up and once again struck the crossbar to give the Rams another let off.
As the second half got underway the Rams may have expected something of an onslaught from the visitors who needed the points. This never quite materialized and although the visitors did press, storming runs from midfielders Maine Walder and Tom Walker saw the Rams taking the game to Didsbury and turning their back line.
Hayhurst almost replicated the previous week’s wonder goal as he cut in a fired a fierce shot which this time just missed the far post. His action-packed afternoon ended as he went for a loose ball and caught an opposition player. Laying prone, referee Holland waited for him to recover before brandishing yellow.
Hobbling, he was immediately substituted.
West continued their quest for an equalizer till the very end with some slick give-and-go passing interchanges demonstrating what a good footballing side they are. Despite six minutes of injury time there was however to be no way through.
Rams gaining the lead has not always led to victories this season but here the resolve was evident, and the post Valentine’s day’s wobble put to rest by three victories with only one goal – a penalty – conceded. They cement a place in the playoffs and, with five games left, may see jockeying for position as the season is extended by at least one match on April 26th.
Both teams were applauded off and went to acclaim their respective fans, the heartbeat of soccer at this level. They enjoyed a hard-fought and skillful encounter played out at touching distance rather than behind a flat screen. After this non-league showcase, it will surely see them flocking back for more of this immersive and authentic experience.
Manager Steve Wilkes was delighted after the game. “Firstly, I want to thank the players who have achieved the play-offs with five games to go. That was the intention at the start of the season but it’s nowhere near what we want to achieve.”
Looking back on the match, he added “As for the game, I thought we were excellent from start to finish. West are a top side with very good and experienced players and I thought we dealt with their threats very well.”
Summing up, he went on “We now need to keep working hard in the next five games so we go into the play-offs in decent form.
“A massive congratulations to everyone involved at the club for achieving our first goal in getting to the play-offs. The players couldn’t have done it without their help”.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Mendes, Radcliffe, Hayhurst (Wilson 87), Winstanley (Matthews 15), Barlow, Walder, Walker, Lynch (Tinker 52), L Sephton (Camara 76), Whyte, Hoyle (Ogunby 90)
Att: 540
