North West Counties League Division One

RAMSBOTTOM UTD...2

STONE DOMINOES...2

BRINGING the curtain down on the season, Rams produced a typical 'game of two halves' performance, to fizzle out, rather than go out with a bang.

Stone started brightly, with a cross from the left forcing Rams' keeper Paul Eatock to punch the ball to safety.

The Rams then began to exert some pressure of their own, rewarded with a corner and a 30-yard free-kick, but failed to capitalise on either, and on eight minutes were punished for their collective indiscretions.

A low, bobbling cross from the left was forced home by Stone's Chris Sumner from the edge of the six-yard box, and another soft goal was added to the list of those conceded throughout the season.

However, on this occasion it did serve to wake the sleepy Rams up, and on 12 minutes Matt Swailes rose to flick on a long clearance that Micky Saunders controlled, before driving into the Stone box where he was unceremoniously flattened.

Chris Clarke took the resulting spot kick and converted it confidently to put the Rams back on terms.

With the goal buoying confidence, the Rams began to play some neat passing football, with Swailes again assuming the role of provider, setting-up Luke Hardman in the Stone box, but the midfielder rushed his shot and blasted wide.

But on 21 minutes the football paid off.

Clarke's free kick from 40 yards out on the right was swung beautifully towards Stone's left-hand post, and there, rising majestically above the visitors' defence to meet it, was Jordan Rispen, whose power header flew into the net to put the Rams 2-1 in front.

Four minutes later Hardman again blasted wide, this time from 20 yards, as Stone began to press forward once more.

Fullback Chris Rowley saw his effort from the edge of the box pushed out for a corner by Eatock. From the resulting flag-kick, Jamie Cartright's ambitious overhead kick flew straight into the keeper's arms.

Swailes was always a danger and he got free again to snap a shot inches wide from the edge of the box, as the Rams began to crank up the pressure.

Three minutes before the break Saunders had another promising shot blocked, while Buggie's effort was again frustratingly just inches wide.

But a youthful, pacey and skilful Stone side came out for the second half determined to not only overhaul the one goal deficit, but go all out for a win.

They encountered a Rams' side that, having impressed in the first half, now began to get caught out for pace and concentration.

On 52 minutes Dave Shaw shot wide from 10 yards when it would have been easier to score.

But just three minutes later he latched onto a long ball down the right, and with Eatock racing out to meet him calmly lobbed the Rams' keeper to put Stone level.

Buggie tried his best a few minutes later, his neat footwork beating two would-be tacklers, but he shot wide with the keeper wrong-footed.

It was followed shortly afterwards by a Rispen free-kick out on the left, which Ged Walsh met unmarked, but he planted his header wide with the goal gaping.

Stone continued to stretch the tiring Rams' midfield and on 62 minutes looked to have the perfect opportunity to regain the lead from the penalty spot.

But Paul Donnelly's shot was at the right height for Eatock and the Rams' keeper spared his team-mates' blushes with a fine diving save.

On 67 minutes Rispen had the chance to grab a second, but his header was directed straight at the Stone keeper.

Stone pushed and prodded but it was the home side that were presented with another golden scoring opportunity, when Swailes found himself totally unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, but he planted his diving header wide.

As the game, and with it the season, trundled to a finale, Stone began to turn the screw even more.

A succession of corners was capped with Donnelly's powerful header, but again Eatock came to the Rams' rescue, tipping the ball over.

More corners arrived and went as the Rams just about managed to hang on to the draw and to say a relieved farewell to the 2003-2004 season.

RAMSBOTTOM: Eatock, McCool, Walsh, Rispen, Boden, Hardman, Smith, Buggie, Saunders, Swailes, Clarke. Sub: D. Gardiner.