MID-TABLE Ramsbottom suffered their worst defeat of the season in their penultimate game of the NWCL Division One campaign.

David Yorke-Robinson had an early 20-yard effort for the Rams which was taken at the second attempt by Flixton keeper Alan Osbourne. On 15 minutes Osbourne made a great stop from Carl Lomax.

A spell of Ramsbottom pressure provided a further opening for Lomax but a timely intervention by impressive defender Marvin Powell prevented a shot on goal.

Flixton took the lead on 26 minutes after an horrendous mistake by Phil Porter left Nathan Comley-Excell with a simple tap-in.

Ramsbottom looked for an equaliser with Jon Phillips' free kick beating Osbourne but finishing a yard outside the far post.

Two minutes before the break Mike Langhorn cracked home a tremendous 25-yard drive to put United level.

Two minutes into the second half Ramsbottom presented Flixton with a second goal when Karl Brown headed past his own keeper. The Rams looked to have found an equaliser through Danny Goodall, but referee Shaw ruled out the goal for a foul on Osbourne. It seemed a strange decision as it was two Flixton defenders who collided with the keeper.

With 20 minutes to play Flixton grabbed a third through David Esdale then on 73 minutes Lee Matthews added a fourth before Brown headed Ramsbottom's second following Langhorn's corner kick.

In the final eight minutes Flixton added further goals through Matthews and Esdale to complete a miserable afternoon.

FLIXTON...6 RAMSBOTTOM UTD...2

RAMSBOTTOM travel to Newcastle Town tonight in their final game of the season.