Ramsbottom United 1 Clitheroe 4

LEE CRYER and Richard Fogerty had Ramsbottom in tears as Clitheroe raced to their first win of the season in emphatic fashion.

While two-goal Cryer and Fogerty, cousin of former world motor cycling champion, Carl Fogerty, tormented the Rams defence throughout the game, it was midfield man Andrew Taylor who took the goal of the game honours with a 22nd minute strike that many regarded as being a contender for Goal of the Season already.

Taylor smashed a superb volley past Rams' keeper Damien Rooney from Gardner's cross.

This was Ramsbottom's first defeat of the season and, although too much shouldn't be read into it, it posed question marks as to the Rams' own promotion ambitions after losing so many of their star players in the summer.

Manager Miike Kelly has had a tough task trying to find replacements for the likes of Andy Grimshaw, Mike Smith, Darren Bowman and Chris Willcock -- and it showed against a Clitheroe side who finally displayed their true colours following that poor start after finishing second in the North West Counties Division One table and reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase last season.

Cryer pounced for the visitors' first goal in the eighth minute after Rooney spilled the ball, and defensive mistakes provided the opening for Taylor to ram in his effort.

It could have been even worse as Cryer dived in to head against the foot of a post from Martin Aspinall's fine, right wing cross a minute before the break.

Fogerty was on target seven minutes into the second half and Cryer grabbed his second to spark yet more wild celebrations amongst the travelling Clitheroe support.

New boy Brad Franks hit his first goal for the club with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area to give Ramsbottom some small consolation, but manager Kelly will have plenty to think about before kick-off in tomorrow's FA Vase tie at Chester-le-Street.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rooney 5, Porter 5, Goodall 5, Bryce 5, Wallace 5, Lomas 5, Yorke-Robinson 5, O'Shaughnessy 5, Brierley 5, Heyes 5, Franks 5. Substitutes: White, Brennan, Rhodes.

If tomorrow's cup game at Chester-le-Street is drawn the replay will be at the Riverside on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm), otherwise Ramsbottom are away to Maine Road in a league game.