SQUIRES GATE PREVIEW
The final match of 2024 and the first home league game for six weeks as we welcome very old friends from the seaside to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium in the shape of struggling Squires Gate.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Squires Gate
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 28th December 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult) – CASH ONLY
OVERVIEW:
Sixteen league games unbeaten. Just one league defeat in the last four months of action. And a new North West Counties League record crowd coming to watch the Rams on Thursday at Gigg Lane. If you were a part of the 5,834 strong attendance that tried to see the game (it sure was foggy), thank you!
However, it is a very quick turn around before the Rams hit the ground again and, for us, we finally swing open the gates for the league game for the first time since the match against Pilkington on 16 November. It has been a while but where better to spend your post-Christmas Saturday afternoon than getting your last football fix of the year, a year of mixed emotions – started poorly but finishing strongly.
We have been here before though. Rewind the clock just twelve months to pre-Christmas 2023 when the Blackpool side came into Rammy two days before the festivities (Luke Sephton in action pictured above) in 23rd place in the ladder and, this year, they are one place better in 22nd. Two first half goals give the visitors a cushion that the Rams couldn’t overhaul despite Sam Rigby’s late strike.
So this is a game that no one will be taking lightly in any way. Gate have won the last three against us, including a double last year adding a 3-2 success at the Brian Addison Stadium in April.
That said, they are without a win or a point in their last eight games and sit fixed to the bottom of the form table, scoring five goals and conceding 25 in those eight reverses, with just two wins from 11 on the road. Their 22 points from 28 games are three better than Colne in 23rd – they need to turn their fortunes around.
The Rams head into this game with 10 wins from 13 on their home patch, sporting just that one defeat to FC Isle of Man – the last time we lost in the league. Things could have been better but the Rams are in second place, only trailing Bury on goal difference but do have a game in hand.
We will say goodbye to 2024 and look forward to 2025 in just a few days time and a trip to Abbey Hey next up on Saturday 4th January. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through over the last 12 months – shall we do it again next year? Because, well, you just never know what might be happening!
HISTORY:
This will be the 33rd competitive fixture between the Rams and Squires Gate since our very first in the NWCFL on 19 August 1995. It is always a pleasure to welcome the Fylde coast club as there is so much history between the pair.
In the previous 32, the Rams lead the head-to-head stakes 14-9 with nine draws while the Rams are 9-4 up here at home. However, as mentioned earlier, Gate have won the last three including a win at the HWRS for the first time since 2007.
Last year was the first meeting here between the sides since November 2011 when Andy Dawson and Lee Gaskell shared four goals in the 4-0 success but we will go back to February 2007 for a classic match that finished 3-3 as the Rams extended their unbeaten run to four games.
Rammy went ahead through Steve McDonald’s penalty but poor defending allowed Gate to level through Couch only to see Carl Lomax restore the hosts lead two minutes later. Couch added a second seven minutes after the restart and Hawkins gave the visitors a 3-2 lead with 13 minutes left.
Steve Maden ensured the Rams rescued a point with a half-volley that looped over the keeper and went in off the crossbar!
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“We have a quick turnaround after the Bury game and some of the players, who put their bodies on the line for the club, might need a little longer to recover.
“We saw Brad struggling with his groin, that needed treatment straight after Bury’s first goal, so we will have to see how he shapes up. He’s not missed a single minute of action for us this season and has been immense so he will be very keen but the physios will keep a tab on him.
“After the game on Thursday, we finally get to play a game at home and welcome Squires Gate who are on a tough run of results but we know all too well that they are a hard side to beat – we didn’t do it last year and they will be keen to come and put a dent into us.”
