League leaders Ramsbottom United drew 1-1 against old rivals Glossop North End in NWCFL Premier Division on Saturday.

In what was to become a thoroughly enjoyable game, the early chances went to the visitors with Brad Rose diving low to keep out a shot as early as the third minute.

Glossop, despite their league position, had an excellent first half with their attractive football.

The Rams, in fine form, were countering on the flanks and Luke Sephton was unlucky after 11 minutes, when he broke free in the box, side-stepped the keeper and shot hard and low at the target before it was hacked off the line.

It was no surprise when the Glossop front pair picked their way through the Ramsbottom defence on 28 minutes as Lewis Reilly found space in the box and then the time to calmly plant the ball past Rose to give them the lead.

The Rams were a goal down and looking to get something from a game.

And an early second-half substitution by Steve Wilkes helped them find the cohesion for which they had been striving. This came with the introduction of Tom Hoyle, the epitome of perpetual motion and a striker who impresses Rams fans every time he plays.

It definitely had an impact and on 57 minutes, Harvey Hayhurst drove down the left to deliver an inviting deep cross towards the far post. It was met by a marked, but battling, Sephton who climbed to meet it and emphatically head home the equaliser - much to the delight of the home fans.

Impetus was maintained as the Rams had a series of corners. One from Maine Walder on 65 minutes, saw Oscar Radcliffe head just wide of the post as the Rams pressed for the winner.

Unfortunately, just as Radcliffe was pulling the strings, a bad head wound led to the young right-back leaving the field with blood pouring down his face.

The resulting series of positional changes saw Rams lose the impetus which had seen them blitz Burscough, South Liverpool and Padiham in recent weeks, with second -half bystander Rose called into action on 80 minutes to keep out an isolated Glossop raid.

Although Rams tried their utmost to find a winner a series of niggles, curious injuries and petulant bookings saw the visitors see out the remaining minutes as the game petered out for a draw.