Ramsbottom United 6

Maine Road 1

BOLTON REFEREE Lee Mason made two pitch inspections before declaring the heavy Riverside pitch fit for play.

His decision turned out to be the right for the Rams as they hit Maine Road for six.

Ramsbottom went in front after five minutes when Danny Goodall popped up at the back post to steer home Darren Bowman's cross.

With front men Russell Brierley and Chris Willcock causing the vistors all sorts of problems, Ramsbottom went 2-0 ahead after 26 minutes.

This time Goodall turned provider with a pin-point cross that was firmly headed home by Bowman.

On 33 minutes Bowman picked out Willcock with a superb cross and the No 10 showed good control before finding the net with a clinical finish.

Three in front and Ramsbottom relaxed their hold on the game. In the final minutes of the half, the Manchester side had their best spell of the game and it took a fine save from Keith Nield to keep out Mark Mitchell's fierce drive.

The second half opened with Maine Road making a good start as they pushed men forward and created a couple of chances, both of which finished wide of the target.

On 56 minutes it was 4-0 when a quick throw-in by Steve Orrell, who had replaced the injured Tony Morris at half-time, found Goodall who caught keeper Andy Mercer off his line and scored with a lovely, flighted shot from all of 25 yards.

Maine Road pulled a goal back on 64 minutes through ace marksman Jock Russell, but seven minutes later Ramsbottom restored their four-goal advantage with a fine solo effort from Chris Brookes, who went past two defenders and rounded the keeper before placing a precise shot into the bottom corner. Shortly afterwards Brierley was desperately unlucky when he struck the post and a goal would have been a just reward for the Rams' leading scorer, who gave the Maine Road defence a torrid time from start to finish.

In the final minute, substitute Mark Heyes got away to score number six with a quality finish.

A good, all-round team performance won the three points and should give the Rams a boost as they go into a hectic Easter programme.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Nield 7, Morris 7, Wallace 8, Smith 8, Thomas 7, Bowman 7, Cameron 7, Goodall 8, Brierley 8, Willcock 7, Brookes 8. Substitutes: Orrell (for Morris, 46 mins) 7, White (for Cameron, 65 mins) 7, Heyes (for D Bowman, 73 mins) 7.

Ramsbottom now play Nantwich away tomorrow, Easter Monday (3pm) Rossendale United away and on Wednesday Curzon Ashton visit the Riverside (7.45pm).