Ramsbottom United claimed their first win of the season at the expense of neighbours Bacup Borough in a tight match which sparked into life in the second half. Rob Walker was the difference between the two sides, scoring in the 48th minute to take the points back to the south of the Valley. The winger capped a lively performance by cutting in from the left wing and driving a shot across Borough keeper Jack McGregor and into the far side of the goal.
Opening exchanges were largely contained in the midfield, with the first chance not arriving until the 10th minute when the Rams’ Stephen McDonald used his pace to get behind the home defence only to see his shot palmed wide. The visitors created a couple more opportunities, notably a long-range Walker effort which cleared the bar by three feet. But it was Borough who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute when striker Andy Sensale beat his man at the second attempt on the touchline, turned back and delivered a deep cross onto the head of Lee Cryer at the back post. The forward rose well but planted his header off the angle of bar and post.
And 11 minutes later it was the Rams who had a chance when the lively McDonald broke down the wing and squared to Sensale, whose first effort was blocked by a defender at point blank range. The striker managed to get back on his feet for a second crack, but McGregor had had the time he needed to get off his line to meet the ball. The game ignited following half time and the early goal, as Sensale tanned the keeper’s palms with a near post rocket before Cryer should have doubled the lead in the 52nd minute when he nodded a free header over the bar from the centre of the six yard box.
At the other end of the park, Lee Oldham found the ball at his feet in the 75th minute after it had flashed across the box, but his shot was saved at close range by Rams number one John Ogden, who had covered his ground well. Five minutes later, Borough captain Ian Hughes was unable to direct a low header goalward from a corner after stooping to connect at the near post. And the visitors almost bagged a second in injury time when Brendan O’Shaunessy picked the ball up in the centre circle. Seeing the way open before him, the midfielder glided forward before releasing a rasper from outside the box which pinged off the base of the post.
