RAMS SHINE IN DERBY DRAW
Harvey Whyte celebrates his first half strike with Harvey Hayhurst and Tom Hoyle.
Anyone wishing to find the soul of football would have been in their element at the Riverside stadium in Ramsbottom on Tuesday with a packed ground with over 1700 present under the floodlights.
They showcased a green pitch watered by intense recent rain – topped up with some welcome Lancastrian sunshine.
Even before kick-off both sets of fans were bouncing around for this crunch local derby, with the match played out to a crackling atmosphere.
The game itself did not disappoint with the Rams creating a couple of early chances. Luke Sephton sliced one over the top and Tom Hoyle saw a header saved.
On the quarter hour mark, Oumar Camara intercepted a Bury throw at their own corner flag. Although his cross was headed clear, Luke Sephton found Hoyle inside the box, his lay-off to Harvey Whyte was calmly placed into the far corner. The goal sent the Rams fans into ecstasy and led to Whyte being mobbed by his delighted teammates.
It was no more than Rams deserved after a bright, confident start reflecting their status as league leaders.
Bury, clad in yellow, are unbeaten this season and although shaken, recovered to play some attractive football based around angles, short passes played at pace and particularly some lovely turns, which at times left Rams defenders trailing in their wake.
Further chances followed for both teams with Camara and Hoyle unable to capitalise as the Rams tried a series of crosses and headers against the physically less robust Bury side.
It was contrast of two styles as Rams also playing good football, working hard, closing the spaces; Bury all quick footwork trying to turn the Rams defence without quite having the run of the ball and a series of chances missed in the run up to half time.
One nil to the home side at the interval but the home fans aware they had thrown leads at Longridge and at the Riverside against the Isle of Man in recent weeks.
As the second half got underway Bury notably upped to the pace and the Rams were to be grateful once more to their young keeper Brad Rose.
Rose, stationed directly in front of hundreds of visiting supporters, plays with an assurance and authority which bolsters the back line and made a series of important saves from set pieces and especially a dangerous free kick, where his astute positional play and calm demeanour made them look easy. A goal looked odds on when he had to dive at full stretch to his left keep out a well struck daisy cutter as Bury went for the equaliser their fans craved.
Rams still carried a threat and perhaps the pivotal moment came after seventy minutes when the indefatigable Camara wriggled free of his marker to unleash a powerful shot from outside the box. Fans from both sides held their breath as it crashed against the post with the sound reverberating through the stand.
There was a feeling though that this might be an important moment and this was to prove the case on 75 minutes, when one of a series of Bury attacks finally bore fruit.
A break down the right led to a cross which found Rustam Stepans on the edge of the box. Stepans neatly flicked the ball over his covering defender before firing an unstoppable shot across Rose and into the corner of the net to give the visitors their equaliser.
The goal was rapturously received by the travelling Bury fans who sensed the chance for victory.
Despite a series of substitutions, including Bury bringing on former Riverside favourites, Jerome and Gooden, the Rams showed grit coupled with a remarkable work rate to see the game end in a draw.
A fair result as at the end of the game everyone, it seemed, was happy to settle for a point.
As the whistle sounded both teams received a standing ovation for players who had given everything. The players exchanged handshakes and Bury and Rams supporters wished each other well for the remainder of the season before happily leaving the ground together.
Manager Steve Wilkes assessed the game afterwards: “I was very proud and a little bit disappointed, when we were one nil in front and Luke had a chance to make it two nil in the first half.
“But we knew in the second half they would put us on the back foot. I thought we defended very well. On the counter we hit the post and had a blatant penalty turned down.
“Somebody just said to me that if it was on ‘Match of the Day’ it would have been the first game!
“When we play Prestwich Heys on Saturday there may only be 250 on, but we have to show that same commitment again. I was proud of them but we have to go again on Saturday.”
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst (Rigby 86), Teague, Ross, Walder, Wilson (Tinker 63), L Sephton, Camara, Whyte, Hoyle (McEvoy 89) Not used: Ogunby, Meadowcroft
Att: 1,773
