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Fresh faces help Rammy to make a crucial point  By Nick Jackson

RAMSBOTTOM United go into their crunch game against Atherton Collieries at the Riverside on Saturday buoyed by the performance of several new players in their impressive 1-1 draw at Silsden.

The Rams were unlucky not to leave West Yorkshire with all three points after dominating the game, missing a host of chances but conceding a soft equaliser with only three minutes remaining.

Former Radcliffe Borough midfield man Haydn Eames and Lee McNally impressed from the off, but boss Neil Hart had to wait until just before the break for his men to get their just reward.

Anthony Johnson threaded a fine ball through to Andy Sensale whose first-time strike rebounded off the keeper on to the body of Sean Pearson and into the Silsden net.

Hart was also especially pleased with the performance of new boy Colin McAllister in defence and although his men were disappointed, to concede a late equaliser, he promised they would face the struggling Colls - the team United last beat back in November - full of confidence.

Hart said: "Atherton are on a poor run at the moment, and now is a good time for us to play them after such a good performance against Silsden.

"It was a show which will have given us a lot of confidence. Haydn gave us a lot of composure, Lee gave us plenty of energy and Colin was solid at the back."

And Hart has not been resting on his laurels. This week he completed the signing of Dean Thurston from Salford City. He added: "He's a young lad with a good touch, and we're very pleased to have him on board. I'm 95 per cent certain of getting another centre-back very soon."

Leaving the club is captain Chris Nestor, meaning the armband has been given to prolific striker Anthony Johnson.