At 7-43pm both sides were United Supporters and all in paying their respects impeccably during the minutes silence in respect of the third anniversary of the death of Sophie Lancaster who was attacked in a Bacup Park.

At 7-45pm this is where any mutual respect did end with both sides from opposite ends of the Rossendale Valley going head to head, Ramsbottom almost took an early lead when Captain John Robinson got in behind the Bacup defence but was denied a goal by the reaction of the Bacup keeper Jon Paul Lewis, in fact it was the visitors that were working some good positions in the opening minutes but the Bacup Defence stayed resolute, then once Bacup settled it was very much the home side that did take command, Lance Ogunyode put a ball across the box which seemed comfortable for the Rams defender until the ball ran under his foot into the path of Daniel Cocks who shot well over the bar.

On twenty one minutes Bacup were in front Keeper Jon Paul Lewis very quickly gave the ball to Gareth Wager who found Lance Ogunyode who then pulled the ball back for Chris Ogunyode some twenty five yards out who did produce a stunning strike leaving Martin Campbell helpless in the Ramsbottom goal.

At the opposite end Ramsbottom won a free kick some twenty yards out which was put in with pace that also did take a wicked bounce coming up at the Bacup keeper who tipped the ball out for a corner which he did also deal with well.

Bacup Borough then produced a good move involving Lee Oldham, Chris Ogunyode from which Lee Oldham was fouled at the edge of the Ramsbottom area, Captain Davey Luker struck the ball which was deflected for a corner which was defended.

In injury time of the first half one half of the Ramsbottom Managerial Team Bernard Mornley was given a straight Red Card, the Bacup Centre Back John Luker was on the floor and inexplicably Morley was blatantly kicking Luker leaving the Referee with the easiest decision of the night reducing Ramsbottom to ten men.

The second half got underway with Bacup having a good early chance to have increased their lead when Bellamy played Lance Ogunyode through for some reason the Bacup striker did take a touch too many which gave the advancing Ramsbottom keeper a chance to make the ball his which he did and at the same time of the coming together Ogunyode did get himself hurt.

Bacup did make a double early substitution. Off went Daniel Cocks for Martin Cosgrave and off went Chris Ogunyode for Falco Lourenco.

In the early stages of the second half Bacup created several good chances to have killed the game off but failed to take them, this until the seventy eighth minute when Bacup were pressing the Ramsbottom rear guard to the point that Campbell did come racing off his line before clearing the ball against one of his own defenders that Lourenco calmly collected before literally walking the ball into the net, it was also Falco Lourenco who did well for the third goal on eighty seven minutes when he cut up the bye line before chipping the ball over the keeper for the advancing Martin Cosgrave to tap into the net.

After the game a delighted Bacup Manager had this to say “

I said it in my last programme notes that this current bunch of players are a joy to work with, they have taken on board our organisation and set up, they have listened and they are learning and tonight they got their just rewards against a good Ramsbottom side,.

What was also pleasing was the way that keeper jon Paul has responded since I addressed certain situations with him, the amount of times he did take the pressure off by coming and taking command was pleasing and assuring, the defensive unit did very well and were rewarded with a clean sheet for the second game running , we had once again a forced change in midfield but it did not show which just shows the importance of the entire squad, in the main our strikers were well positioned out of possession of the ball which nullified Ramsbottoms outlets which in the end they lacked ideas of what to do with the ball

What I will credit Ramsbottom with, was the way they kept going and did have a go at us despite being down to ten men, I am sure in the cold light of day Bernard (morley) will regret his action’s but credit to his men they did keep going right until the end but the opening few minutes apart Bacup Borough were never troubled because to every man they each and everyone of them stood up tall to be counted “

Team: Jon Paul lLewis, Gareth Wager, John Luker,,Robert Fox, Daniel Cocks (Martin Cosgrave), Davey Luker, Adrian Bellamy, Chris Ogunyode (Falco Lourence), Daniel Hartley, (Aaron Spencer), Lee Oldham, Lance Ogunyode.

Subs Not Used: James Greenhalgh, Tommy Allen

Goals: Ogunyode C 21, Lourenco 78, Cosgrave 89

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