SEPHTON’S AT THE DOUBLE
Scott Sephton is joined by Maine Walder and Oscar Radcliffe after his winning goal.
Despite the bright sunshine, the mood was sombre, with a minute silence in memory of local football Chairman Paul Hilton, who’s done so much to drive neighbour’s Radcliffe forwards in recent years and respected at the Riverside and throughout the wider the football community.
The Rams were playing the team struggling for form but, in the opening minutes, Prestwich, led by former Riverside player Dylan Fitzgerald, were able to create a couple of dangerous chances themselves, and with more conviction might well have made them pay.
Rams did create chances, but they tended to be from isolated raids, rather than from the free-flowing football, which had seen them dismantle a number of teams this season.
Luke Sephton was involved in most of them and on 22 minutes produced a trademark surge to drive forward and place the shot to the right of the keeper. Unfortunately, it was also wide of the post.
Rams work rate was good but at times the players didn’t appear on the same wave lengths, as the team huffed and puffed to a perhaps flattering 0-0 halftime scoreline.
The second half saw a continuation of the scrappy nature of the game and was even reflected in the substitutions, with Tom Hoyle – on fire in recent weeks – making way on the on the hour mark.
Another series of isolated attacks continued, the best once more involving Luke Sephton, as another bursting run followed and powerful shot flew straight at the keeper.
As the tempo increased and what passed for pressure mounted, the Rams gained a series of corners. This knack of keeping the pressure on has been evident this season and was to prove crucial as the breakthrough finally came.
In keeping with the game, it was a scrappy goal. The corner on 56 minutes, itself resulted in a series of prods and swipes at the ball in the area by both sides with the ball pinging around the box. Finally, it fell for Luke Sephton who was able to fire through a ruck of players and into the net for the opener.
Any thoughts this may lead to more were dissipated as the game reverted to the humdrum pattern. Indeed, the Rams did their best to undo the advantage with goalkeeper, Brad Rose, even getting in in on the act.
An attempted clearance on 78 minutes to a routine back pass bobbled and was invariably mishit by the otherwise excellent young Rams keeper straight onto the head of a Prestwich forward. His aerial one-two set him free down the left to cross to Erike Sousa who was able to tap the ball into an empty net, much to everyone, including the nippy Sousa’s, surprise.
Were Rams going to let more home points slip through their fingers?
They kept calm and two more corners were won. The second, on 84 minutes, proved crucial as Scott Sephton’s formidable frame rose high and he was able to aim at goal. The header found the underside of the crossbar via the top of a defenders head and came down across the line to the delight of the massed fans a few feet behind.
The late winner meant Rams had come through thanks to the Sephton brothers and the knack of capitalising on corners.
Come April, and with the advantage of dispassion towards the end of the season, few will care about misplaced passes and misfiring individuals, what they will see is the Rams gaining a valuable three points, keeping momentum going at the right end of the table.
The reality is that at nearly a third of the way through the season the Rams have amassed a healthy 30 points from 15 games to proudly sit top of the League.
Catch us if you can!
Manager Steve Wilkes was a relieved man: “Most pleasing thing about today was that we won the game when not playing very well. The previous couple of times we’ve not reached the standards set, we haven’t won the game.
“It was always going to be hard for the players playing in front of over 1700 to around 250, so to win the game was pleasing.
“We looked a little heavy-legged at times, so getting an extra day’s rest this week will be most welcome”.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Tinker, S Sephton, Walder, Wilson, L Sephton, Camara (McEvoy 86), Whyte, Hoyle (Lynch 71) Not used: Meadowcroft, Ogunby
Att: 236
