PRESSURE is something Ramsbottom United have taken in their stride this season, with the result that they are now fourth in the North West Counties First Division table.

To get that high they have had to beat the best teams in the division, which they have done.

To stay there and hopefully go even higher they need to contnue winning and hope other teams can do them a favour or two.

"We have beaten every team apart from Alsager, so complacency is our biggest problem," said Rams' manager Derek Egan.

"If we can avoid it we can achieve anything. But the moment we start going into games thinking they are going to be easy is the moment we start to slip up.

"We are aiming for a top two finish, which I believe is well within our grasp, and I also believe the pressure is on the teams above us now.

"We have to keep winning and hope Newcastle and Fleetwood slip up, while we have a game in hand on St Helens, who we have yet to meet.

"We have done the hard bit, we have beaten leaders Fleetwood home and away, now we need other teams to beat them.

"The reason they are where they are is that they intimidate teams, but we stood up to them, now others need to do the same."

The Rams' home game on Monday against Colne was postponed due to the weather, so they open the New Year with a trip to the seaside and Altcar Road, home to Formby.

"It will be our first meeting of the season," said Egan.

"They have struggled so far and are curerently second from bottom, but they beat Trafford recently so we dont really know what to expect.

"Will it be the side that beat Trafford, or will it be the side lacking confidence?

"It's a big pitch, which suits our style of play, and we are on a roll, and with respect to Formby, the only thing that can beat us is ourselves."

Included in Monday's side will be leading scorer Mickey Saunders, who has 16 goals (13 in the league, one in the FA Cup and two in the FA Vase).

"I've spoke to him about the appproach from Rossendale United and he is not interested," added Egan.

"He is enjoying playing for Ramsbottom; he is enjoying the craic in the dressing room; he is enjoying playing alongside lads his own age! Why would he want to move?"