FA Vase first qualifying round : Mossley...3 Ramsbottom United...1

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED suffered their second cup exit in the space of four days after a poor performance at Mossley.

The home side dominated the opening 15 minutes as Ramsbottom hardly got out of their own half. Mossley striker Tony Carroll twice went close and Rams keeper Simon Marsh made an excellent stop from Ryan Hevicon.

On 20 minutes Brad Franks replaced Scott Thomas, who sustained a head injury after an accidental clash with Mossley's Simon Heaton.

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Shaun Pickering headed against the Ramsbottom crossbar and three minutes later the home side went in front when Carroll was allowed far too much room as he cracked home a well-executed half volley.

It took Ramsbottom 27 minutes to bring a save out of Mossley keeper Rob Hackney, who always had David Yorke-Robinson's long-range shot well covered.

In the closing minutes of the first half Ramsbottom finally enjoyed more of the attacking play with Hackney coming beyond the penalty area to clear from Carl Lomax and then saving Andy Grimshaw's looping header.

The opening 45 minutes ended with a lack-lustre Ramsbottom fortunate to be just a goal behind.

The second half opened with Dale Fielding providing a couple of useful crosses and on 51 minutes Ramsbottom grabbed an equaliser when Lomax hammered in a great strike from 22 yards.

Mossley soon regained the lead on 57 minutes when Mark Phillips was left unmarked by Ged Walsh and the big defender wasted no time at all in smashing his shot past the helpless Marsh.

The Ramsbottom keeper then did well to keep out Heaton's goalbound shot.

On 65 minutes Ramsbottom were unlucky not to find an equaliser when Hackney's feet kept out Russell Brierley's shot and defender Matt Cross cleared a Lomax shot off the line.

To make matters worse a swift Mossley counter-attack brought a third goal from Hevicon and once again the goal was assisted by poor Ramsbottom defending.

The goal killed off any hope of a Ramsbottom comeback with the Rams looking a well-beaten side lacking determination, enthusiasm and invention.

The only bright spot from this dismal display being the performance of goalkeeper Marsh and defender Walsh, who apart from his one lapse, looked in good form.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Marsh 7, Blore 5, Goodall 6, M Brown 6, Walsh 6, Grimshaw 6, Yorke-Robinson 6, Thomas 6, R Brierley 5, Lomax 6, Fielding 5. Substitutes: Franks (for Thomas 20 mins) 6, Orrell (for Fielding, 78 mins). Not used: McCoy, Langhorn, Reilly.