RAMSBOTTOM UNITED...3

TRAFFORD...0

WITH the Rams on the trail of a new manager, the players needed to continue where they left off in the defeat of Salford last Saturday.

They couldn't have wished for a better start when a corner was swung in from the right and Ged Walsh met it with a header. Trafford keeper Nick Ward failed to hold on to the ball and Glyn Barker was on hand to tunr it into the net.

Barker was involved again five minutes later when he played the ball to Jordan Rispin, who's first touch let him down.

Trafford were hardly getting a look in now and it became apparent why they have lost their last ten away games.

The Rams Robbie Smith was next to go close as his 20-yard effort went just wide of the post.

Trafford created their first chance of the game on 25 minutes and it should have proved costly for the Rams. Ian Taylor cut in from the left and his ball to the far post found Ben Ashmole unmarked, who toe-poked the ball wide form six yards.

The Rams then put the Trafford goal under siege with Ian Dyson firing straight at Ward ten yards from goal and then Barker burst past two defenders before shooting straight at Ward when anything either side would have produced a certain goal.

With 41 minutes on the clock, Dyson played in Barker through the middle and his left foot drive was saved by the legs of Ward as another chance went begging.

The Rams finally got their second on the stroke of half-time.

A long ball was played up to Rispen and he played in Mark Brown for the cross to the near post. Trafford's Mark Drew got the touchgoing back to his goal and turned it past his own keeper Ward.

The second-half started much the same as the first with the Rans playing some tremendous football. Mark Fitton was seeing plenty of the ball and his crosses were caiusing mayhem in the visitng defence.

On 62 minutes, Gareth Gardiner was introduced in place of Brown and he immeadiately got in on the act by knocking a great ball in from a corner which found Rispen.

His header had too much for Ward and nestled in the far corner to put United three up.

Everybody was trying to get in on the act now for the Rams and they were lucky not to concede a goal afte 77 minutes when Mark Molyneux had to pull off a fingertip save to keep out a Graham Tench volley after a quick break.

Gardiner continued to torment Trafford and it was only his final touch which let him down after he ghosted past two defenders into the box.

The Rams were unable to add to the scoreline and ran out comfortable winners of the game.

This was a fine footballing performance with all the players playing their part and it should give them plenty of confidence going into what should prove a much tougher fixture at Congleton tomorrow.

RAMS: Molyneux 7, Raywood 7, Walsh 7, Bulwich 7, Stewart 7, Dyson 7, Fitton 7, Smith 7, Barker 7, Rispen 8, Brown 7. Subs: Gardiner (for Brown, 62) 7, Hardman (for Walsh, 76) 6, Archer (for Barker, 73) 6.

The Rams' next home match is on Tuesday evening at home to Barrow in the Lancashire Marsden Trophy. Kick-off 7.45pm.