RAMS UNLUCKY NOT TO TAKE SOMETHING

Isaac Lee sets off on another Rams attack as they look to level up at Trafford.

The visitors started the game well and very nearly took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes. Ryan Lockett did extremely well to beat his man down the right hand side and get a floated cross into the box. Ryan Jennings’s was the man to attack it but he could only guide his header onto the crossbar.

This didn’t dishearten the away side in any way as skipper Josh Askew found Jordan Scanlon with a sensational 20 yard through ball but the inform Rochdale AFC loanee couldn’t guide his effort on target.

On 15 minutes it was time for Scanlon and Askew to swap roles as the midfielder slipped the left back through one on one with the goalkeeper but Niall Jordan in the Trafford goal did exceptionally well to deny him from close range.

As the first half was coming to a close it was still all Ramsbottom as Ryan Lockett tried his luck from distance but saw his shot rise narrowly over the bar. A positive first 45 minutes though from Chadwick’s men and plenty that the gaffer would have been happy with.

As the second half got underway Trafford looked to have more fire in their belly and they began to create good chances of their own.

Goalkeeper Tom Wooster was called into action on 54 minutes as the home side floated a lovely freekick into the box that found the head of Tom Bentham who forced a good save out of the Rams number one.

Then just five minutes later the hosts found the opening as Bentham drove down the right hand wing, he managed to swing a teasing ball over to the back post and Max Hazeldine was the man to nod it into a virtually empty goal.

Ramsbottom brought on attackers Jordan Southworth and Billy Hasler-Cregg in an effort to try and get something from this game and Hasler-Cregg nearly did just that on 73 minutes.

The tricky winger picked up the ball from the half way line and drove towards the Trafford goal but with the angle getting ever tighter his effort was inches wide of the far post.

Rammy continued to apply the pressure as the game headed into the final stages and they were asking all sorts of questions of the home side’s defence but a much deserved goal was just eluding them.

With just a minute left on the clock, the away side hit on a promising counter attack with wide man Hasler-Cregg leading the charge, he picked out substitute Southworth on the edge of the box but the effort was well blocked by some last ditched defending.

So another frustrating game for the Rams after being on top for large parts and to not to come away with even a point felt harsh.

Ramsbottom will go again on Saturday as they travel to Runcorn Linnets for their last away match of the season where they’ll look to build from this game and hopefully take all three points.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Wooster, Ogunby, Askew (c), France, Radcliffe, Hall, Jennings, Lee (Hopley 83′), Da Silva (Southworth 62′), Scanlon, Lockett (Hasler-Cregg 66′)

Subs not used: Connell, Bailey