UNWANTED HAT TRICK AS RAMS FALTER
No way through for Rams forwards Rhys Turner and Tom Hoyle.
Goals by Dan Morton and Freddie Machell did the damage for Steve Wilkes’ side, who now face a daunting task of a closing down a 10 point gap to league leaders Bury heading into the final weeks of the season.
Three changes were made to the side beaten 3-2 by St Helens in the previous game. Harry Winstanley replaced Harvey Hayhurst in the back line with Rhys Turner and David Lynch replacing Josh Tinker and Richie Baker.
With Ramsbottom coming into the game in second place and visitors Padiham in fourth, aspirations for an entertaining, high quality game were in store. Unfortunately, the overall attacking quality failed to represent the league standings. Chances were few and far between in the first half with both teams struggling to craft out a chance from open play. Naturally, set pieces became the most likely way for either side to score.
The opening goal came in the 25th minute from a corner kick where an in-swinging ball was headed home by Padiham skipper Dan Morton. Unmarked in the six-yard area, the number five burst the net with his header leaving Andre Mendes helpless in the Rammy goal.
The response from the home side came with plenty of effort yet little reward. The main threat came from wing backs Maine Walder and Oscar Radcliffe, who both sent dangerous crosses into the box. The attempt by the former glanced the cross bar while Radcliffe’s attempt was well claimed by goalkeeper Matt Hamnett. The half time whistle came with plenty for Wilkes’ side to ponder over.
The killer moment came in the 53rd minute with a superb long range strike by midfielder Freddie Machell. A cleared corner ball fell nicely for the midfielder whose fierce strike flew past Mendes into the roof of the net.
Having started the second half with renewed energy and flair going forward, the goal was a sucker punch for Rammy. A string of chances were created as the half ticked by that once again came to no avail. Striker Luke Sephton trickled an effort wide of the post before substitute Oumar Camara headed wide of the mark. The attempt once again came courtesy of a menacing Radcliffe cross. As time quickly ran out, Harvey Whyte’s free kick landed on the railway line behind the stand while Hamnett tipped a Sephton header over the bar.
A flurry of late chances and a marked increase in tempo was not enough to change the course of the game as Rammy slipped to a third consecutive home defeat, denting chances of automatic promotion, with the team realistically looking to grab a play-off place. Performances better than this will be needed, otherwise a season that showed so much promise could well fizzle out.
Manager Steve Wilkes was not happy. “Really disappointed with the performance”, he moaned, “It looked flat from the first minute and it’s my job to change that before Saturday.
“We need to get a bit of confidence back into the players,” he added, “We have 8 big games coming up and we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get back to doing what we’ve been good at all season”.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Mendes, Radcliffe, Walder, Teague, Barlow, Winstanley (Hayhurst 82), Lynch (Walker 69), L Sephton, Turner (Camara 67), Whyte, Hoyle NOT USED: Stacey, Wilson
Att: 313
