Rushall Olympic 2 Ramsbottom United 4

Ramsbottom United broke their duck at the third time of asking with a convincing victory at much-fancied Rushall Olympic.

The trip to south Staffordshire could hardly have started better, as the Rams took the lead in the fifth minute thanks to Phil Dean’s strike.

Jordan Hulme double the lead on 28 minutes, nipping in on a short back pass to score.

But the hosts pulled on back before half time when Josh Craddock nodded home at the far post. However, the Rams sealed the game with two quick goals early in the second half.

Jon Robinson went down under a challenge in the area and he picked himself up to confidently strike home the resulting penalty.

Two minutes later, on 54 minutes, the visitors netted their fourth of the afternoon when Dean slid in his second from a Joel Pilkington through ball much to the appreciation of the healthy number of Rams’ supporters who had made the lengthy journey down to the Midlands.

The home side did manage to reduce the arrears on 83 minutes, when Craddock scored his second goal of the game with a fine strike from 25 yards out.

Lee Pugh then left the field with an injury, leaving the Rams down to ten men, having made all their substitutions.

But the Rams held on to pick up their first ever points at Evo-Stik Premier level.