RAMSBOTTOM crashed out of the FA Vase against NWCL Division One opponents Mossley as their poor start to the season continued.

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

With 20 minutes gone Shaun Pickering headed against the Ramsbottom crossbar and three minutes later the home side went in front when Carroll cracked home a 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 final minutes of the first half, Ramsbottom enjoyed more of the attacking play with Hackney having to come beyond the penalty area to clear from Carl Lomax and Andy Grimshaw getting in a looping header that was straight at Hackney.

The opening 45 minutes ended with a lacklustre Ramsbottom unfortunate to be just a goal behind.

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

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

The Ramsbottom keeper then did well to keep out Heaton's goal-bound shot.

The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the game and on 65 minutes were unlucky not to equalise when Hackney's feet kept out Russell Brierley's shot and Matt Cross cleared a Lomax shot off the line.

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

The third goal killed off any hope of a Ramsbottom comeback with MIke Kelly's side well-beaten side, lacking determination, enthusiasm and invention.

The only bright spots from this dismal display being the performance of goalkeeper Marsh who was in stunning form.

And, apart from the one lapse of Mossley's second goal, recent signing Ged Walsh, from Rossendale, looked in good form.

MOSSLEY...3

RAMSBOTTOM UTD...1