LR and Rammy warm to task as frost bites
8:59am Monday 16th January 2012 in Amateur Football
THE weather once again played havoc with the non-league action on Saturday when three out of our five local teams fell foul of frozen pitches.
Radcliffe Borough’s trip to Farsley FC in the Evo-Stik League Division One North, along with Atherton Collieries’ match at Abbey Hey, and Daisy Hill’s home fixture against Wigan Robin Park in the North West Counties League Division One were all called off due to the frosty conditions. But the two teams who did beat the weather fared well.
In the NWCL Premier Division, second-placed Ramsbottom United claimed a 3-1 win at fourth-placed Runcorn Town, while bottom club Atherton LR drew 1-1 at home to Padiham.
Rammy got off to a flying start in Runcorn, with Jordan Hulme’s first goal for the club in the fourth minute setting them on their way to an important victory.
Captain Andrew Dawson doubled the lead three minutes after the break, and while the home side’s Jason Carey pulled one back with half an hour to play, Rob Grimes’ last minute goal sealed all three points.
The win keeps Ramsbottom a point behind leaders Bootle and five points clear of thirdplaced Barnoldswick Town, who have two games in hand. They entertain mid-table Silsden on Saturday.
Atherton LR remain rooted to the foot of the table, seven points from safety, despite ending their five-match losing streak.
Alex Stoobern opened the scoring for LR just after the half-hour mark – the club’s first goal in more than 300 minutes of football – but Andy Haworth quickly levelled for the visitors.
Still, they managed to hang on for the draw, which will please Atherton LR manager Phil Priestley, who had called on his young squad to turn recent improved performances into points.
He will be hoping to build on that with a win on Saturday when they travel to ninth-placed Alsager Town.
Elsewhere, Radcliffe Borough face two difficult matches this week, at home to seventh-placed Lancaster City tomorrow before Saturday’s trip to sixth-placed Skelmersdale United.
Atherton Collieries, whose last two matches have been postponed, will be hoping it’s third time lucky on Saturday when they entertain 11th-placed Eccleshall.
Despite only playing 16 games – not even half way through this season’s full programme of league fixtures – Colls remain in fifth place, two places above Daisy Hill, who travel to Northwich Villa on Saturday
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