A tough test for Ramsbottom United as they flew into the Isle of Man for evening fixture on Saturday, the well-appointed ‘bowl’ stadium at Douglas venue for an unusual 6pm kick off time, writes Charley Rattan.

It attracted a healthy 900 plus crowd - with plenty of noisy support for the Rams from those supporters making the journey.

How would the Rams fare, fearing against the red-clad Raven, a team in strong form up to third in the table on their home turf?

Playing in familiar blue and white the Rams started brightly, stroking about the ball confidently and immediately finding their rhythm. The home side found themselves forced back as Rams kept the ball for large tracts of time whilst looking dangerous going forwards.

Oscar Radcliffe worked space on the right before his cross -shot angled against the crossbar after 15 minutes. A warning for the home side as the visitors continued to play their eye-catching passing game

In the 34th minute the Rams got even nearer as a more deliberate effort from Luke Sephton also hit the bar and as it dropped, Oumar Camara’s follow up was headed off the line and away as the Rams were turning on a performance worthy of league leaders.

It looked as though it was only a matter of time before they made the breakthrough. Indeed, that came five minutes later with a smart low volleyed finish. Tom Hoyle found space in the box to volley low into the corner for an assured finish and greeted with acclaim from travelling fans and teammates alike.

Rams had worked hard to get in front and perhaps it was inevitable they would ease up. Once more they were to be grateful to the excellent Brad Rose for two crucial saves. The second a fine low effort dive gained the admiration of the whole stadium to keep the Rams ahead at the half time break.

The Isle of Man won at the Riverside last month, turning around a half time deficit to deservedly end up 2-1 winners. How would this Rams team react?

There were no immediate changes but a few minutes later these were to be forced. Maine Walder had to go off injured and, rather curiously, manager Steve Wilkes pulled the hard-running Tom Hoyle into the back line, meaning that the Rams own threat was much diminished and with Camara isolated as the Rams were reduced to long punts, each gaining only a couple of seconds’ respite.

Wave after a wave of home attacks followed but, marshalled by Scott Sephton who read every threat, the Rams held firm.

They were resilient and quick to regain a compact shape when the ball was lost, making it difficult for the Isle of Man to force their way through.

An endless series of home corners followed with the home side thumping a free kick against the left-hand post from McVeigh as the tension mounted. The agile Brad Rose also came to the rescue a making two wonderful stops, one a point blank shot he somehow pushed over the bar to keep the Rams precious lead intact.

There was some surprise when seven minutes injury time was announced but the Rams managed the game out well with Harvey Hayhurst and Camara taking the ball to the corner flag on a couple of occasions before the whistle was met with some relief.

Overall, a game of two halves, some lovely football in the first fully meriting their top of the table position, the second a real attritional battle.

The Rams showed real spirit and grit to gain a valuable three points on unfamiliar terrain and in testing circumstances. With performances like this, they will take some stopping.

Manager Steve Wilkes was understandably delighted. “To go to the Isle of Man without two of your experienced players in Andy Teague and Rob Wilson and then to lose arguably one of our best players this season in Harvey Whyte to a sickness bug in the hotel hours before kick-off, did not bode well.

“We had a 17 year old centre half Cullen Meadowcroft and ended up with just two subs, and then to lose another, Maine Walder, minutes after half time, meant our centre forward Tom Hoyle reverting to centre half, just shows how much of a result this was.

“In 27 years of being a manager, this result is in the top five proud moments,

“This results shows what a group we have at Ramsbottom this season.”

“I was listening to the Isle of Man’s manager’s comments and I honestly think he was watching a different game. Apart from the last 15 minutes when they’d thrown three 6ft 4in strikers on, they never caused us any problems.

“I am a very proud manager after the game but we now have to dust ourselves down, hopefully get a couple of players back and go again on Tuesday night.”

“Finally, I’d like to say a massive thank you to the travelling fans who came across. The boys really appreciated your effort and we can’t thank you all enough. There was only one set of fans that could be heard singing during the game and that was the Ramsbottom fans.”

Ramsbottom United: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Meadowcroft, S.Sephton, Walder(Uppal 49mins),Lynch, L.Sephton, Camara(Ogunby 90+7mins) Sub not used: Turner