It took 210 minutes of keenly contested football and 20 penalties, all but the last one converted, to separate two teams that are much more evenly matches than the disparity in league positions might suggest.
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.
The Rams were twice in front but never in control of this FA Trophy tie and a reply back at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night was a fair outcome.
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.
This was a game the Rams should never have lost so while there will be some considerable comfort to be taken in the evidence of continuing improvement there will also be concern at the failings which saw the points slip away.
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.
There are two perspectives from which this result can be judged. The first by reference to the score line alone would suggest another heavy defeat for a young lightweight team whose recent form of three unbeaten games going into the match was nothing more than a cruel mirage which disappeared into the mists of reality once the Rams came up against a well organised team.
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.
Saturday 23rd September 2017 KO 15:00
Tuesday 19th September 2017
