Vodkat North West Counties Premier League

Tuesday 28th October 2008

For the third game running Bacup have found themselves having to come back from being a goal behind, despite this twelve minute set back it was the Borough that took the game to their hosts producing slick passing moves which Ramsbottom could not get to grips with.

During the opening minutes Ramsbottom won a succession of corners against what seemed like an uneasy Bacup defence. Former Bacup player John Stephenson struck the Bacup cross bar with an header to let his former club off the hook but on twelve minutes following another corner Bacup were made to pay for failing to mark Andy Dawson who had time to take a couple of touches before shooting his side in front.

From this moment on it was evident Bacup responded like a mad wasp, they got the ball down to play, their movement was quality, their passing was short & sharp which brought the equaliser on sixteen minutes. The move involved Hampson, Rother,Giggs, Harrop before Tommy Turner finished off with a fine goal. Minutes later it was almost two when Hampson played a good ball into the area and the lively Giggs produced a glancing header which just fizzled past the post. Further chances were created but Damien Ross the Leeds United youngster in the Ramsbottom goal was equal to however, on thirty minutes Damien Ross and the Ramsbottom defence were left a merry dance with some quality link up play. Martin Cosgrave did well down the right hand side of the pitch before finding Giggs who dummied the ball into the path of Sean Roscoe to shoot Bacup into the lead.

The football at times from Bacup utilising the whole width of the pitch was of sheer quality and on forty two minutes it paid off when Rhodri Giggs linked up well with Tommy Turner who put in a clever ball which Martin Cosgrave making a late run into the box unopposed, guided the ball past Ross in the United goal and give the visitors an half time three one lead.

From the re-start of the second half Rhodri Giggs almost made it four following his header against the Ramsbottom cross bar. Much the same as the first half Bacup were having plenty of the ball but the opportunities that were worked were dealt with well by keeper Damien Ross. However the same could not be said at the opposite end and on seventy three minutes Sean Roscoe’s attempted back pass to his keeper got blocked, with the ball going up in the air what should have been an easy take from keeper Phil Melville but Melville dropped the ball and Ramsbottom pulled a goal back by scrambling the ball over the goal line.

This could have resulted in an uneasy last quarter of an hour but once again Bacup always looked a threat going forward carving open the Ramsbottom defence with intelligent passes, resulting in Bacup winning a succession of corners. The first corner Giggs missed a gilt edge chance but minutes later following a Giggs flick on captain Davey Luker headed the ball past Damien Ross securing a two goal cushion.

John Borg, Warren Collier & Lee Ellis were introduced for Martin Cosgrave, Jamie Rother & Rhodri Giggs who had all worked hard in a comprehensive Bacup Borough victory.

Following the game the Bacup Manager had this to say “During the opening part of the game we looked very uneasy at the back defending set pieces and it was during the early part that Ramsbottom took the lead. This was a direct result of our marking leaving a lot to be desired, when the lad is free to take two touches before getting his strike off to score unmarked this is just not acceptable. Following the goal we got the ball down and with short passes gradually started to create openings, this was down to intelligent runs and good vision and passing ability from players to compliment the runs which were being made. All our goals were all worked hard for and well made, however sadly yet again we conceded two goals that were poor from anyone’s standards.

Looking at the entire ninety minutes we had far too much quality for Ramsbottom to handle, yes at certain times in the game Ramsbottom had a short spell but that is going to happen at some stage. Ramsbottom were at home, but for seventy five minutes of this game Bacup Borough produced football of the highest quality and we scored four well worked goals and we took three fully deserved points. Also even though I am not happy about us going behind and the manner in which this happened I was pleased with the character that we showed to come back and then to go onto win the game “

Team: Phil Melville, Ben Blundell, Steve Sheils, Davey Luker, Sean Roscoe, Martin Cosgrave (Warren Collier), Matthew Hampson, Kyle Harrop, Jamie Rother (John Borg), Tommy Turner, Rhodri Giggs (Lee Ellis)

Subs Not Used: Matthew Andrew, Matthew Cross

Goals: Tommy Turner 17, Sean Roscoe 36, Martin Cosgrave 44, Davey Luker 88

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