It has been quite a week for Lee Donafee and his Ramsbottom United team.

MOSSLEY 0 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 3
Seel Park, Mossley
Monday 30th August 2021
Northern Premier League Division One West
Attendance: 476

They started the week in 18th place and finished it just two points shy of top spot in third as his charges collected a maximum of nine points, scored 12 goals and conceded just two. If there were any doubts in the early part of the season that the new look Rams were going to be also rans, they are firmly being dispelled now.

For the second match in a row, the Rams dominated proceedings and were richly rewarded with their first league win at Seel Park since 2013, having tried four times since then.

Everything has finally come together.

Consistent team selection – there was just a solitary change amongst the same 16 player squad with Jamie Rother coming into the starting XI in place of Godwin Abadaki, who went to the bench.

A team playing for each other – you can see the players are enjoying their football again and the new players, the likes of James Murphy, Kayle Power, Will Hall and Steve Hoy are all finding their feet and showing exactly why they have been signed.

On the back of the 7-1 mauling of Market Drayton Town on Saturday, a trip to Mossley was always going to be a tough challenge although they would have been pleased not to have seen former Ram Mason Fawns in the side, he being out with an injury.

There were two former Rammy players in their squad though in the shape of David Kuba-Kuba, who came on as a first-half substitute and defender Ben Richardson, who also made an appearance on the field late on.

But this game was all about Ramsbottom United as they went through the gears early on and could have taken the lead on 24 minutes when Hoy saw his header go over the bar.

It didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken though and it came from the head of Will Hall, the Ramsbottom-born youngster on loan to us from Altrincham. His ball into the box found Domaine Rouse who flicked it back onto Hall’s head to crack it home.

A 1-0 interval lead was little more than the Rams deserved and it took them just four minutes of the second half to stretch their advantage.

With his fourth goal in the last two games, it was James Murphy who was on hand to nod home the rebound following a decent save from the Mossley keeper from Hall’s original attempt.

The home side did try and haul themselves back into the contest but found Tom Stewart in fine form, keeping out a great chance on the hour and another right on full-time when Jack Grundy strike was magnificently stopped.

Rammy deserved a third goal and they got it when former Lilywhites player Jamie Rainford benefited from a slide rule pass from Murphy to slot home with ease.

Mossley did have the ball in the net with three minutes left on the clock but it was ruled out when substitute Owen Collinge was adjudged to have been fouled in the set up.

The final whistle saw the Rams clinch a superb 3-0 win to end Mossley’s unbeaten start to the season and move us up to third in the early table with 10 points – two behind Workington. It is already starting to look very familiar!

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Tom Stewart, Danny O’Brien (Owen Collinge 87), Tom Kennedy (capt), Steve Hoy, Will Hall, Eddie Cooper, Jake Thompson (Kayle Power 65), Jamie Rother (Jamie Rainford 70), Domaine Rouse, Dahrius Waldron, James Murphy. Subs not used: Godwin Abadaki, Cameron Collins.