Rammy look to maintain form

4:27pm Wednesday 14th November 2007

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RAMSBOTTOM United boss Neil Hart has the luxury of a fit squad as he prepares his side for a return to league action at St Helens Town.

Back-to-back wins in North West Counties Division One before last week's break for two cup matches have put the Riverside men on a mini-high which Hart is keen to see continue.

The Rams suffered the indignity of going out of the Lancashire Challenge Cup by a 4-2 scoreline to Ashton Athletic before returning to action on Saturday to register a 2-0 win against Kirkham and Wesham in the Vodkat League Cup with goals coming from in-form striker Anthony Johnson and Dave Hanlon.

Hart said: "It was important for us to bounce back after Tuesday's disappointment.

"I said to the players that we needed to show a positive response and that's what we did.

"I thought the players were fantastic. It was a good move and a good finish and I'm delighted for Anthony.

"He's a fantastic lad to have in the dressing room and around the place."

The boss's only concern is a niggling groin injury which continues to plague the Rams' star striker.

Hart explained: "He's got the murmurings of a hernia. He's been carrying it for a few weeks now, and we've been easing him through games, and when the opportunity has arisen we've taken a chance and taken him off and given him 20 minutes rest.

And he joked: "I said to him the other day, if Michael Owen can get back in six days, why couldn't he?"

Hart's men are now licking their lips at the prospect of meeting struggling St Helens, but the manager knows it will not be an easy game.

He added: "It's a vital game for us because we want to keep our little run going.

"They are quite big side and they like to get it up to the front men quickly, but we'll be ready and we'll give a good account of ourselves."