When the Rams happily tripped off the pitch on 22 November 2014 finding themselves in fourth place after a comfortable win over a fancied Grantham Town team, few in a crowd of nearly 350 would have put money on it being almost 11 months to the day before they had the pleasure of seeing another Rams home win.
Any belief that a final programme of 3 home games against fellow teams in the nether regions of the division would provide an easy route to the three points that secured the Rams retention of their NPL position was more than dispelled by a nervy evening against this former colliery team. How precious in the light of this point was the marvellous triumph on the road at Barwell on Saturday.
A depleted Ramsbottom United side were denied a place in the Doodson Sport Cup Final by their Yorkshire visitors, going down 2-1 to Farsley in the semi-final.
A very tired bunch of Rams players ended a very satisfying week on a positive note with a well deserved, if somewhat, nervy win against a determined but all but doomed Belper Town team. It will be a great shame to see this well organised, welcoming and well appointed club return to Division One after just one season.
New Ramsbottom United manager Garry Vaughan began his reign at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium with a point, although his side left it late to salvage something from a game they felt should have won.
There was a feeling of euphoria amongst the players and supporters of the Rams as this crucial victory preserved the club's status at Evo-Stik Premier level after a season of more ups and downs than the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
With a third defeat in their last four outings, Ramsbottom United have been drawn inexorably back into the relegation mire following their narrow 1-0 loss to promotion-chasing Ashton United on a warm, spring day in Tameside.
The Rams somehow managed to grab a draw from the jaws of victory on Thursday by conceding two goals in the last two minutes of a see-saw game.
A very youthful Rams team, featuring 8 players under the age of 21 ran league leaders Blyth Spartans ragged for the majority of a very open game and could count themselves very unlucky not to post their first win of the season.
Ashton United just about deserved all three points which should guarantee them a play-off place but should feel themselves both fortunate and more than flattered by the final scoreline.
This was a very comfortable and largely untroubled victory for FC United of Manchester, who are now just three points away from assured promotion.
If there were any doubts that the managements and team see themselves in other than a vicious fight to retain their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League status, never mind the games in hand, the approach to this game should consign them to the rubbish bin.
Finally, thankfully, the curtain has come down on a nightmarish and fretful season marked by another insipid home defeat for the Rams.
For the time time this season, after a troubling week off the pitch, there was a sense of lack of optimism and collapse in morale on the terraces on Saturday which somehow transmitted itself into a nervous performance on the pitch.
By far the most assured and accomplished 45 minutes of football in the current era saw the Rams grab a well deserved and valuable three points at a wide open and windswept Grantham Town on Saturday.
The Rams will be bitterly disappointed to have lost this game having beaten the visitors in the Black Country only four days earlier.
Saturday 25th August 2018 KO 15:00
Tuesday 21st August 2018
