CLITHEROE...2

RAMSBOTTOM UTD...3

UNITED got back to league duty after back-to-back wins in the FA Cup and Vase and picked up a superb win at NWCL First Division leaders Clitheroe.

There were two changes to the Rams' lineup with Mark Fitton in for Gareth Gardiner and Colin Bulwich replacing Robert Morgan.

And they got off to a fine start against the Shawbridge side who hadn't dropped a point prior to Tuesday night.

Greg Brickell had a shot blocked then saw a fizzing drive fly across the face of goal.

However, the home side should have taken the lead after six minutes when Gary Jackson headed wide from a corner with the goal at his mercy.

Clitheroe were to pay dearly for that miss as the ball was knocked up to Brickell who sped past Mark Stewart and hammered a 20-yard drive past Kris Richens to put the Rams into the lead.

Ramsbottom were playing some good football and deservedly extended their lead after 13 minutes.

Matt Swailes held the ball up well in the corner before turning and crossing a fine ball to the near post where Danny Heys was on hand to fire past Richens.

Swailes went close again from the restart volleying over when left unmarked at the far post.

It could have been three after 25 minutes when only a last ditch tackle by Lee Sculpher denied Brickell an easy tap-in.

But throughout the half the Rams conceded too many free kicks and only some resolute defending and good goalkeeping kept them two goals up at the interval.

As expected the home side came out for the second period all guns blazing and Ramsbottom were under concerted pressure for the first 25 minutes.

Even so, United almost went three up when Fitton chipped a superb effort that just cleared the crossbar and Luke Hardman saw a 25-yard effort just shave the post.

But they did increase their lead after 55 minutes when a long, hopeful ball caught the Clitheroe defence on the back foot and after Richens saved an initial effort from Swailes, Dyson was on hand to turn the ball home.

Although Ramsbottom were well worth their 3-0 advantage the game was far from over.

Jackson latched onto a through ball and fired past Andrews to give the home side a glimmer of hope but still the Rams created with Swailes heading over the bar while Gareth Gardiner's hesitation cost him after being put through by man-of-the-match Matt Raywood.

Cryer reduced the arrears to 3-2 as Clitheroe enjoyed a good spell of pressure but United bounced back and Swailes was again denied by a fine save from Richens who also foiled Gardiner from grabbing a fourth.

The victory gives the Rams a massive confidence boost ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup preliminary round tie at Ashington.

RAMSBOTTOM: Andrews 8, Raywood 9, Bulwich 7, Walsh 7, Goodall 7, Dyson 8, Fitton 7, HAdman 7, Brickell 7, Swailes 7, Heys 7. Subs: Brown (for Hardman, 65), G. Gardiner (for Fitton, 65), Morgan not used.

Supporters wishing to go to Ashington for tomorrow's FA Cup preliminary tie are informed that the coach will leave the Riverside Ground at 9.30am.