RAMSBOTTOM fought back from a goal down to continue their steady climb, sealing the points in the dying minutes to leapfrog over last night's opponents Maine Road in the FNWTL first division.

The Manchester side were constantly forced on to the defensive with crosses coming in from both flanks and Steve Orrell going close.

Maine Road refused to panic and got themselves moving with their neat one-touch passing game

Somehow Maine Road survived United's onslaught and on 30 minutes, Orrell's firm header crashed against the crossbar from Jamie Ramplin's free kick. Three minutes from half time Brendan O'Shaughnessy got in a superb cross, David Yorke-Robinson's late run into the box showed great vision but his downward header somehow missed the target.

On 54 minutes substitute Richard Ivers shocked the Rams when he put the home side in front. This unexpected success lifted Maine Road and in the next 20 minutes they produced their best football of the game with midfielder Mark Mitchell looking a real quality player.

Ramsbottom's central defenders, Dave Roach and Neil Wallace, had to put in some sterling work as Maine Road looked for a second. However, the Rams kept their composure and on 79 minutes they equalised when Orrell's right wing cross was headed home by Yorke-Robinson.

Ramsbottom now had Maine Road back-pedalling but they squandered a couple of free kicks from good positions as first Ramplin, and then Martin Hulme blazed over the top.

With only a couple of minutes remaining, a surging run by Ramplin saw him play a measured pass which Russell Brierley quickly and confidently struck to win the match and wrap up the points.

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