Ramsbottom United smash City of Liverpool in eight-goal thriller on milestone day for manager

Wednesday, 19 November 2025 16:11

By Charley Rattan

Travelling supporters braved an icy wind interspersed with torrential rain and freezing conditions but it was well worth the effort for a match which will long live in their memories.

The visitors, playing in red, overcame early pressure from City of Liverpool to produce one of their most dominant displays in recent memory, with Oscar Radcliffe and Matt Dudley leading the way in a first-half rout.

City of Liverpool, in their purple kit, started the brighter of the two teams, creating problems at the back. But Ramsbottom struck first after just 10 minutes, when Radcliffe launched a counterattack and delivered a pinpoint cross for Dudley to stab home at the second attempt.

Just four minutes later, Radcliffe again turned provider as Dudley fired in from close range to double the lead.

Jacob Holland-Wilkinson, fresh from signing a new deal, added a third with a composed finish after a well-worked move from a corner. He then bagged his second minutes later following another slick attacking sequence. A rare attempt from the hosts saw a long-range effort fly over Brad Rose’s bar.

The match took a dramatic turn just before half-time when home goalkeeper James Aspinall was shown a red card for a handball outside the box. His replacement, Joseph Angus, immediately had to deny Holland-Wilkinson with a fine low save.

Ramsbottom picked up where they left off in the second half. Corey Stacey added a fifth after another Radcliffe delivery from the right, this time smashing his effort in off the underside of the bar.

Goal six came courtesy of Hayhurst, who drove forward to fire in from the edge of the area. Dudley completed his hattrick shortly afterwards with a looping header that left Angus with no chance.

Despite easing off late on, the Rams remained solid. Rose produced a strong save from a Milne drive and saw another City of Liverpool effort bounce back off the post.

In the dying minutes, Braganza added a ninth, tapping home after a sweeping move down the right.

Substitutions saw Henry Ogunby and the Sephton brothers brought on to shore up the result, with the travelling fans applauding a performance few will forget.

Ramsbottom now sit top of their division on 50 points from just 20 matches. The team has conceded only once, a penalty, in the entire calendar month. Wilkes’ achievement in reaching 1,300 matches as a manager was matched by the quality on show, with credit also due to coach Rob Henry for a tactical system that tore the opposition apart.

As the final whistle sounded, many home fans, soaked and disappointed, stayed behind to acknowledge the Rams’ display, a moment of footballing respect that echoed the sport’s founding principles.