RAMSBOTTOM UNITED...1 FLIXTON...1:RAMSBOTTOM went into their final home game of the season without a number of their regular players.

They faced a rejuvenated Flixton who under manager Dalton Steele have lost just once in ten outings.

With two minutes played Danny Goodall was desperately unlucky not to give the Rams the lead with a 25-yard drive that Flixton keeper Kurt Edgington touched onto his crossbar.

Play moved from end-to-end with the visitors showing why they have been in such good form over the past two months and Rams keeper Paul Horridge twice had to be quick off his line to cut out dangerous Flixton attacks.

On the half hour, Steve Orrell wasn't far away with a cracking drive that shaved the far post with Edgington beaten all ends up.

The Rams had a good spell of pressure as Edgington saved from Orrell and Chris Wilcock saw his goalbound effort scrambled off the line for a corner kick by a Flixton defender.

In the final minutes of the half both sides went for that important opening goal, but the first half ended 0-0.

However, in such a high tempo game a goal or two looked likely in the second period.

As the second half got under way Flixton mounted the first real strike when Gavin Salmon's fierce 20-yard shot was well-taken by Horridge.

The Rams replied with a dangerous Goodall free-kick that eluded everyone, but finished beyond the far post.

On 55 minutes Warren Brierley replaced the injured Brad Franks, coming on for only his second game of the season following the serious knee injury he sustained almost two years ago.

John Phillips then produced an excellent free-kick that rattled the Flixton crossbar. At the other end Horridge made a great stop from Troy Hayden as Flixton stepped up the pace.

With the game into the final 20 minutes the Manchester side looked to be shading the attacking play, but it was David Yorke-Robinson who went near to a goal with a first time shot that was onoly a yard over the top.

On 75 minutes Ramsbottom grabbed the lead when John Phillips drove a free-kick into the danger area for Yorke-Robinson to brilliantly head home.

The lead lasted just eight minutes with Flixton equalising through Jordan Burke who pounced to turn in the rebound after Horridge made a marvellous block from Hayden's header.

Eight minutes of stoppage time failed to find a further goal, but overall a point apiece was about right from a game that was a cracking contest from start to finish.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Horridge 8, Porter 8, Charnock 5, Woodford 8, Sheil 8, Franks 8, Brennan 8, Phillips 8, Yorke-Robinson 8, Orrell 8, Goodall 8. Substitutes: Wilcock (for Charnock, 15 mins) 8, W Brierley (for Franks, 55 mins) 8. Not used: Lewis.

Ramsbottom play at Mossley on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) and Fleetwood (kick-off 7.45pm) on Tuesday night next week.

Manager Mike Kelly will be looking to try out a few players he has in mind for next season in these fixtures.