FLEETWOOD TOWN...2

RAMSBOTTOM UTD...1

THE Rams travelled for their fourth away game of the season on Tuesday night and after Saturday's indifferent display against Stone, manager Andy Grimshaw again rung the changes with Iain Dyson replacing Chris Clarke while Ged Walsh came in for Mark Brown.

Fleetwood created the first opportunity as early as the fourth minute when Ian Vickers fired high over the bar after being put through by Nathan Pond.

Pond then made a great run into the box himself but his attempted cross flew wide of the goal.

Fleetwood started much the better and Vickers knocked an excellent ball across the face of goal that Ramsbottom's Danny Goodall did well to turn wide for a corner.

Fleetwood then had three corners in succession and with most of their side six-foot-plus the Ramsbottom defence was tested at every set piece.

Perversely, the Rams scored from their first real attack. The ball was played up to Matt Swailes on the edge of the box, he turned and went past two players before sending in a tremendous cross which Danny Heys superbly converted at the back post.

It was the first time this season that United had taken the lead in a game and they went on to dominate the rest of the half.

Greg Brickell, playing his second game for the club, was causing the Fleetwood rearguard all kinds of trouble with his pace and he was well supported by Swailes.

It was Brickell that carved out another opening for Heys after 25 minutes but the speedy winger just failed to get the final touch at the back post.

Banks then made an excellent fingertip save from Brickell but in what was to be the first of many strange refereeing decisions the referee awarded Fleetwood a goalkick.

The Rams were playing fluent football with their opponents happy to hump the ball upfield and let the big guys fight for it, hoping to pick up free kicks wherever they could.

It was a tactic that paid off in the second half.

Right on half time the Rams were denied a clear cut penalty when Brickell was clearly brought down by Frank Cygal in the box, but the referee waved play-off claiming no contact had been made.

Fleetwood's half time couldn't have taken long as they came out for the second half and immediately started launching the ball up in the air.

The route one game did the job after 55 minutes when Kevin Barnes lobbed the ball into the box from 40 yards out and found Vickers all alone at the back post and he made no mistake with a simple tap-in.

The goal fired Fleetwood up and for the next ten minutes Ramsbottom had to keep a tight rein on the home strikeforce.

However, they should have retaken the lead after 68 minutes when Brickell's pace again took him into the box where his shot was deflected into the path of Heys but from six yards out he shot weakly at Banks with the goal at his mercy.

Matt Raywood then went close for the Rams but his shot narrowly shaved the crossbar .

Fleetwood took the lead after 80 minutes, from the penalty spot, following a clear foul by Raywood on Barnes in the box.

Their best player on the night, Adam Tong, stepped up to give Andrews no chance.

The Rams were left chasing the game and Brickell was again denied a good penalty claim when not one, but two, defenders appeared to upend him in the box.

Although this was a third defeat on the trot for the Rams it was a much better performance and a draw would have been a fairer result.

It's FA Cup day tomorrow when United travel to league leaders Woodley Sports looking for a lucrative cup run.

RAMSBOTTOM UTD: Andrews 7, Raywood 7, Goodall 7, Bulwich 7, Walsh 7, Hardman 6, G. Gardiner 5, Dyson 6, Brickell 8, Swailes 7, Heys 7. Subs: Brown, Fitton and Clarke.

The Rams' first home game of the new campaign is next Tuesday night (September 2) when Trafford are the visitors to the Riverside (7.45pm).