This was simply the worst team performance from a Ramsbottom United team that has been seen under the management of Bernard and Jonno.  They just did not turn up and allowed Congleton Town the easiest 2-0 win.

You can be sure that, in the week leading up to this match, fourth placed Congleton will have looked at Ramsbottom United and thought they were in for a real battle.  The Cheshire side have won just once since they came to the Riverside in late October while Rammy had lost only once in their last 12 league outings.

On paper, it was the visitors who should have controlled the game.  And they probably could have done - if they had decided to show up on the day.  This was as meek a performance as you could have got and Rammy got nothing and deserved nothing.

There were a couple of changes to the team from the 1-1 draw at Colne on Tuesday night with Andrew Sensale displacing Eddie O'Neill while Carl Lomax returned for Mark Sharples.  There was a very late change on the bench when Damien Rooney dislocated his thumb in warm-up so Accrington Stanley academy youngster Matt Ince took his place.  Ollie McGee, his international clearance finally arriving, was also called into the subs.

The visitors did open the brightest.  Jon Robinson had a good chance but hit his chance across the face of goal before Congleton striker Ashley Miller did exactly the same at the other end and was inches wide.

Miller, a new signing for the home team, was out to impress and he certainly did but to the cost to the visitors of Andrew Dawson, who rolled his ankle in an attempt to tackle him and he was replaced by McGee, making his debut for the club.

Once again, the angles of the goal prevented the deadlock being broken when Dominic Smalley made it a hat-trick of 'across the face of goal' strikes on 11 minutes.

Congleton then did find the target but it was some lacklustre defending that allowed the dangerous Miller to strike.  He weaved his way through without being challenged and accurately shot past Allen in the Rammy goal for the opener on 15 minutes.

The men in blue were continually guilty of losing possession and making numerous mistakes which a side of their quality shouldn't be.  But they were coming thick and fast and Congleton were gorging themselves on receiving the ball although they were not making the visitors pay.

Robinson, try as he might, attempted an overhead kick which sailed over which was the only effort Rammy had as the hosts continued to press without success.

A second goal was on the cards and it duly came on 42 minutes when marksman Stuart Tulloch took advantage of a slip from Phil Dean in front of goal and calmly slotted the ball home for 2-0.

But before the half was out, Rammy did force three corners and from the third, John Blackley was narrowly over the bar with his chance.  Half-time came and head were down.

Not even a robust talking to at half-time could bring the dazed Ramsbottom side into the match as they failed to control any ball that they had.  And what ball they did have was cheaply given away.

It was a hugely frustrating game for the visitors.  Nothing they tried came off, no matter how fancy the play, while Congleton kept the ball simple and it was effective although they failed to add to their two-goal tally.

Substitute Mark Sharples came closest for the Rams in the second half when his free-kick went wide but that was about it and as the overhead gloom set in (the referee refusing to request for the floodlights to be turned on !!!), the gloom on the pitch from the side in blue was concluded.

A desperately disappointed co-manager Anthony Johnson was a man of little words at the end.  "We were just not good enough today," he said.  "There was no desire, no passion and this was just a very very poor performance across the park.

"Both myself and Bernard are very disappointed with that, as it is not acceptable."

Rammy stay second in the table but all of their promotion rivals all won.  They could have stretched themselves well clear of fourth place with a win today - now, it is all in the melting pot.

OTHER PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS TODAY
Abbey Hey 3-1 Silsden
Ashton Athletic 1-4 Newcastle Town
Atherton LR 0-6 New Mills
Colne 2-1 Formby
Congleton Town 2-0 Ramsbottom Utd
Flixton 2-2 Winsford United
Glossop North End 1-0 Alsager Town
Nelson 0-3 Maine Road
Runcorn Linnets 2-3 Bacup Borough
Squires Gate 1-2 Bootle
St Helens Town 1-2 Padiham

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