Ramsbottom United...1

Woodley Sports...1

North West Counties League Division One

UNITED picked up their second draw of the week when Stockport-based Woodley visited the Riverside.

Although in the opening minutes both side passed the ball well few chances were created with the final ball into the danger area lacking quality.

After 20 minutes the visitors were shading the attacking play and a good spell of pressure brought Rams' keeper Damian Rooney into action and he had to race beyond the 18-yard box to clear from Darren Garfield.

Rooney then saved from the highly-rated Mike Norton and busy midfielder Damian Ohandjarnian put a stinging low shot into the side netting.

The Rams gradually steadied and began to put their own game together with Russell Brierley's new striking partner, Jamie Wilson, looiking particularly lively.

After 33 minutes Wilson's cross was handled by a Woodley defender and Brierley fired the Rams in front from the penalty spot.

The lead lasted just four minutes as Woodley equalised through Norton after United failed to defend a free kick on the right.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half saw defences on top but the big problem for both sides was the referee who from the word go failed to let the game flow and his constant use of the whistle infuriated the crowd.

With just under 30 mins to play Ramsbottom should have regained the lead when Brierley put in a terrific low cross but somehow from only a yard out Wilson failed to find the net.

With twenty minutes remaining the unlucky striker was stretchered off with a leg injury.

The Rams used all three subs as they went for a winner and only a point blank save by Woodley keeper Steve Morris kept out David Yorke-Robinson's header that looked to have given the home side all three points.

In the end the draw was a fair result from a game that would have been so much better without the constant interventions of the referee!

RAMS: Rooney 6, Porter 7, Wallace 6, Cameron 7, Langhorn 7, Brooks 6, Franks 7, Lomas 6, Goodall 7, Brierley 7, Wilson 7. Subs: Yorke-Robinson (for Wilson 70 mins, 6); O'Shaughnessy (for Lomas, 70, 7); Brennan (for Brooks, 79).

Tomorrow Ramsbottom make the trip to Blackpool Mechanics for an FA Cup preliminary round game, kick-off 3pm, then on Tuesday night (September 4) local rivals Clitheroe are the visitors to the Riverside. Kick-off 7.45pm.