RAMSBOTTOM had to come from behind to pick up the points against struggling Bootle.

The visitors took a shock lead on 19 minutes when a speculative shot from 25 yards ricocheted off a Ram's defender and fell to the unmarked Dave Carter.

Parrott did well to get a hand on the ball but Carter's low shot finished in the back of the net.

Ramsbottom had chance after chance but were denied by Bootle keeper Colin Flood.

Steve Orrell, Russell Brierley and Dave Roach all went close but couldn't open the Flood-gates!

The host eventually levelled five minutes after the break. Chris Brookes play Russell Brierley into a shooting position only to be bowled over by Steve Kearns. From the resultant spot-kick Brierley gave Flood no chance with a shot into the bottom corner.

As Ramsbottom pressed for the winner Bootle were a constant threat on the break and Tommy Murphy wasted a good chance for the visitors. But the Rams took the points when Flood could only block Russell Brierley's fierce shot and Steve Orrell swooped to knock the ball home from 10 yards.

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