The Rams winning
streak continued as they managed to come from a goal behind to
clinch the points from this entertaining game at Victoria Park.
Both sides had differing reasons
for wanting to win this game as Nelson where thumped 10-1 in
their last game and after releasing Denny Khan and appointing
Nik Jackson-Cooney as their new manager, they wanted to impress,
whilst the Rams wanted to carry on from where they left off
after last weekends impressive 4-0 victory over Runcorn.
The opening minutes of the game
were scrappy as both sides tried to contain each others breaks
but it was the home side that created the first real opening on
18 minutes when Ryan Cross shot inches wide of John Ogdens goal
after finding space just outside of the area.
Two minutes later and the Rams
almost took the lead when they were awarded a corner kick and
Anthony Johnson was unlucky not to connect properly from Matt
Eckersleys cross. The ball cannoned off the forwards
knee and went high over the bar.
In the 25th minute and Johnson
was unlucky again after the Rams were awarded yet another
corner. Matt Eckersleys perfectly flighted cross was met
by Johnson who headed the ball down towards goal but the home
keeper made a brilliant save to push the ball onto the bar and
out for another corner.
As the half wore on Nelson where
starting to find more time on the ball and they almost scored
when a shot cannoned off the bar but Ogden was quick to scoop up
the ball.
The second half saw chances
aplenty as both sides turned the game into a real spectacle for
the watching spectators.
It was Nelson who drew first
blood in the 67th minute when a neatly placed cross by
substitute Egan was headed in by Smith past the stranded Ogden.
It was no more than the home
side deserved as their football was a joy to watch. Many
visiting spectators where asking how and why a side like Nelson,
who play some attractive football are struggling at the foot of
the table!
However, rather than let their
heads go down, the Rams moved up a gear and started to find
holes in the Nelson rearguard.
First, a breakaway move started
by Eckersley found Gino Pulvino racing forwards and after
beating two defenders he advanced goalwards. With Anthony
Johnson perfectly placed to receive the pass and a clear tap in,
Pulvino instead went for goal but his attempted shot went
agonisingly wide of the far post.
Minutes later and a neat
through-ball found Johnson and as he played a neat one-two with
Dean Thurston, Johnson went one-on-one with the keeper but
somehow his attempted shot was saved and put out for a corner.
The Rams finally got their
equaliser in the 69th when they were awarded a freekick just inside the
Nelson half. As the ball was played into the area,
Johnson rose the highest and his header found Dean Thurston who
smashed in a terrific volley giving the keeper no chance.
Not to be outdone, in the 75th
minute Johnson
scored the winning goal after good work by Vaughan. His
delicate through-ball found Lee McNally who raced into the area
and after beating his defender he played the ball into the six
yard area for Johnson who was on hand to hammer it into the net.
Nelson created a couple more
chances to level the scores and the Rams where given a scare
during injury time when the ball was played into their area and
with the goal at his mercy, Hill somehow manage to miss the ball
completely and the Rams cleared to the relief of their
supporters.
Ramsbottom manager Neil Hart has
now seemingly got his side winning again and not only that they
are playing some neat, attractive football in the process, which
is something that many of their supporters are commenting on.
Neil and Iain are bringing in some quality players to the
Riverside and the supporters are already talking about next
season and what could be achieved.
