AFTER two successive defeats at the Riverside, the Rams got back to winning ways thanks to a two-goal blast in the first half away to Atherton LR.
It was Ramsbottom who came charging out from the start and they put intense pressure on the home defence with runs by Steve McDonald, Lee Cryer and Anthony Johnson causing all sorts of problems.
However, it was Atherton who created the first real opportunity when Stuart Wellstead found some space but his shot was easily saved by Martin Campbell.
The Rams took the lead on 14 minutes when Johnson picked up the ball and from the acutest of angles he somehow blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
A minute later and Ramsbottom should have been two goals in front as a free-kick taken by McDonald was met by the head of Pearson but somehow the keeper got enough on the ball to divert it out for a corner kick.
Within another minute the Rams were unlucky again when Chris Nestor won the ball just outside the area and Lee Cryer was the quickest to react.
He squared the ball to Johnson who in turn crossed the ball into the path of McDonald but his final shot went agonisingly wide of the post.
After this flurry of attacking football by the Rams, the game settled into a more competitive pace with neither side creating any chances.
That changed in the 29th minute when the Rams won yet another freekick just outside the area and Chris Steele provided a quality cross into the area for Lee Cryer to head the ball past the stranded Kernan to put the Rams two-nil up.
Three minutes later and Cryer was unlucky to see his header go narrowly over the bar after the Rams won a corner kick.
With half-time approaching, Atherton produced their best move of the game after a great knockdown by McAllister saw Rick Arnold blast the ball way over the bar.
The second half started off with the Rams yet again causing the Atherton defence problem after problem.
First, Lee Cryer found some space in the area but his first time shot was easily saved and moments later Cryer was once again close to adding to his tally after a great cross by McDonald was unluckly headed over the bar.
Atherton started to get a hold of the game at this point but without really troubling Campbell in the Rams goal and the back line of Houldsworth, Nestor, Rhodes and Blackley in particular looked very strong.
On 65 minutes, Atherton had a great chance to get back into the game but Lee Hughes could only see his tame shot saved by Campbell.
The second half slowly petered out with the Rams trying to hit Atherton on the break but if anyone was going to score it was going to be Atherton themselves as they tried to pass the ball up field with every move they made.
The Rams travel to Flixton on Saturday, before visiting Silsden on Tuesday night.
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