When a result like Saturday’s result is recorded, you can look at it two ways. Either it was just one of those days, which can happen, or it was a rout which couldn’t be stopped.
BOOTLE 5 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 0
Berry Street Garage Stadium, Bootle
Saturday 25 September 2021
Northern Premier League West Division
Attendance: 289
The 5-0 scoreline at Bootle was most definitely one for the latter category as the Merseysiders strode out with impression to their new manager on their mind and they did that – in spades.
It was a horror performance from the Rams, who are now winless in four having been unbeaten in four. They had scored 15 goals in those four winning games – they have recorded just a single since.
And this result, yet another disappointment on the road to the west, has left many questions to be answered.
The home side opened the scoring on 38 minutes when a cross drifted across the Rammy goal and Hamilton was there with a volley from an acute angle which made its way past Stewart in the Rams goal.
Whilst it was only a single goal in the opening half, the hosts had enjoyed much of the play and their dominance was confirmed as they blitzed the Rams in the second period.
Jack McGowan climbed high to meet a cross from the right to glance a header into the top left corner for their second on 53 minutes.
The third, on 70 minutes, was certainly preventable as Hodkinson teased Steve Hoy left and right before hammering home his sides’ third.
Bootle saved their best for their fourth just six minutes later. The Rams defended the initial shot but the ball found Loughlin, who fired a volley from some 30 yards out that left Stewart no chance.
Henri Ogunby’s 88th minute goal, beating Stewart on his inside, added insult to injury as the Rams suffered their heaviest league defeat since April 2017.
A month that started so well with a run-breaking 3-1 success over Colne closed with little to cheer from a Rammy perspective and they have seven days before the next one – a home game with Leek Town – to put it right.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Tom Stewart, Owen Collinge, Tom Kennedy (capt), Steve Hoy, Will Hall, Eddie Cooper, Ronaldo Brown (Kayle Power 52mins), Jamie Rother (Khalil Osi-Efa), Domaine Rouse, Dahrius Waldron (Jamie Rainford 64mins), James Murphy. Subs not used: James Ngoe, Nosa Iyamu.
BOOTLE’s GOALS: (if you can bear to watch them!)
https://twitter.com/anckow/status/1441839995644481538?s=20
