Ramsbottom United bowed out of the Vodkat Challenge Cup when they went down 3-1 to league leaders Newcastle Town in an entertaining encounter where the scoreline didn't reflect the game.

But the ease in which Rammy surrendered the ball to their vaunted visitors on occasions was definately a concern and had co-manager Anthony Johnson looking to improve certain areas of his squad.

The pitch was surprisingly firm considering the horrendous weather which blighted the country in the last month.  It was a chilly afternoon by the Riverside but the decent crowd were entertained by two free-flowing side.

It was the visitors who took the first bite of the cherry when Daniel Skelton struck an unstoppable volley from 25 yards which left Rammy keeper Damien Rooney helpless for the opening goal.  It was one of those "one in ten" opportunities, but it was taken superbly and left the hosts behind the eight-ball as early as the ninth minute.

1-0 down to a side that have conceded just seven league goals in 23 games.  But that did not stop a slightly weakened Rammy outfit pressing hard and that was confirmed when Lee Connell fired wide on 13 minutes following a fine run down the right from Barry Shuttleworth.

Both sides were rusty following the enforced five week break and co-manager Bernard Morley proved that when he was late with his tackle and was given a yellow for his efforts.

Connell, once again, was proving a thorn in the side when he forced Newcastle stopper Greg Smith into a finger-tip save and the home side continued to attack well without finding the finishing touch and the sides turned around with the visitors holding the one goal advantage.

That lead could have been scratched off just two minutes into the second period when Morley's rasping shot crashed into the post as he fired his effort from the right hand side across the face of goal.  The ball, unfortunately, rebounded out and to safety.

On the hour, Newcastle thought they had extended their lead.  From a free-kick just outside the area, the shot was well saved by Rooney but Skelton backheeled the ball into the net.  However, he was adjudged to have been off-side.

But, on 65 minutes, the lead was stretched when Matthew Platt, only on the field for five minutes as a substitute, was on the end of a break and, in plenty of space, slotted home.

Two goals down and it was all hands to the pump for the hosts, who changed their formation to include Andy Sensale and Barry Massey up front and it almost paid off when the former crashed his effort across the face of goal and agonisingly wide.

As Ramsbottom pushed forward, they were caught light at the back and Newcastle's leading scorer Jordan Johnson dispossessed John Blackley and fired his shot home for the winner.

The home side did claim a very late consolation when Carl Lomax fed Sensale, who found Massey in the middle and his shot just had enough puff to trickle over the line despite the Newcastle defender attempting to clear it off the line.

There was only time for a restart when the referee blew for full time and Rammy disconsolately exitted the competition.

Co-manager Johnson cut a disappointed figure.  "I am gutted for the lads," he said.  "We had Newcastle under the cosh for quite a bit of that game but we lost the game by our own downfall.

"We cannot afford to make amateur mistakes when playing a side like Newcastle Town.  The scoreline certainly did not reflect the game and I would argue with anyone all day if they said that Newcastle were 25 points better than us because they are not on that performance.

"But it is imperative that we start getting things right on the park and not allowing those silly mistakes to affect us and if that means players have to leave and others come in, then so be it.

"I am happy with the squad we have, don't get me wrong, but we are continually looking to improve and be in a position to step up should we be in a position to do so.

"Newcastle's performance today was where we need to aspire to be.   Clever play, knowing when to fall down and waste time.  All those things show why they are top of the league."

OTHER RESULTS FROM SATURDAY
F.A Vase Round 4
New Mills 2-1 Witney United
Norton & Stockton Ancients 4-2 Bootle
Vodkat League Challenge Cup Round 3
Abbey Hey 1-0 Ashton Athletic
Glossop NE 0-0 AFC Liverpool aet
Norton United 2-5 St Helens Town
Wigan RP 3-2 Runcorn Linnets aet
Winsford United 2-0 Bacup Borough
Premier Division
Alsager Town P-P Nelson
Congleton Town 4-1 Colne
Formby P-P Maine Road
Padiham 4-1 Flixton
Silsden P-P Squires Gate

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