Ramsbottom United v Atherton LR

A debut double from Jacob Holland-Wilkinson helped get the Rams new season off to a winning start at the HWRS on Saturday afternoon.

The sun shone at the Riverside stadium in Ramsbottom on Saturday afternoon as the home team welcomed promoted Atherton LR to town and a chance see whether the team could kick on after gaining an impressive 97 points haul last time out.

There were a couple of new faces including Jacob Holland-Wilkinson and he announced his arrival in fine style giving the blue shirted Rams the perfect start. In the third minute a break down the left-hand side led to clever footwork by him, allowing him to cut back inside and fire a hard low shot towards the near post. It looked as though Atherton keeper Bickerstaffe had it covered but there was enough power in it to take it past him and nestle in the net to get the season up and running.

Playing in all yellow, Atherton were undaunted and played some neat and eye-catching football as they tried to recover. It looked as though they were certain to equalise as a quick break left the Rams defence exposed and a one on one with home keeper Brad Rose. Rose showed remarkable composure and agility as he got down quickly to keep the resulting shot out and force it over the bar.

A free kick from a dangerous position bent in by Cal Hunter smacked against the home crossbar a few minutes later.

Rams skipper Andy Teague was then forced to limp off a Glenn Matthews slotted in at centre half for a welcome return as the home team fashioned a series of attacks built around simple slick passing by Baker and Walker who combined well in midfield to keep the home side moving forwards.

A move down the right for the Rams saw a deep Hayhurst cross nodded back into the danger area. The alert Holland -Wilkinson read the ball’s trajectory to shape his body – before thrashing the ball into the net for a wonderful and dramatic finish. One met with a roar of approval by the home crowd.

Two nil to the good at half time but many in football know this to be a tricky one to hold on to whether to stick or twist.

The second half was to prove much more attritional for the Rams and series of incidents led to the game threatening to boil over and to Hayhurst receiving after an off-the-ball incident. The Rams could never relax a Atherton sense a way back and were to be grateful to Rose once more for another remarkable save, It followed a through ball in which the striker looked to slip the ball under him but hi astonishing agility saw him get down low to smother the chance and led to chants of ‘England’s number one’ cascading from the terraces.

With the Rams resorting to ineffective long ball punts to relive the pressure Atherton continued to press. Their persistence was rewarded when a sloppy forwards pass led to a breakaway which left Rose no chance to make it 2-1 with time to save the game.

The referee, Ryan Bostock, became the centre of attention when he became injured and received lengthy treatment while the Rams centre half-hoodoo was also evident as substitute, the impressive Matthews, had himself to be replaced with about half an hour remaining.

Steve Wilkes shuffled the pack and were to be grateful for the returning Rick Whtiingham’s reading of the game with several timely interceptions as Rams stayed firm and, despite over 10 minutes nerve shredding additional time saw the game out to secure the win.

The Rams showed resilience to come out with three points against spirited opponents -who will do well in the higher league – and get the season up and running.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Walder, Teague (Matthews (Hepple)), Barlow, Walker (Stacey), Hayhurst, Baker, Dudley, Sephton (Whittingham), Holland-Wilkinson (Ogunby)

GOALS: Jacob Holland-Wilkinson (3, 34); Thomas Romano (72)