PRESCOT Cables twice came from a goal behind to draw level in an entertaining game at Volair Park, but were unable to overcome Ramsbottom United and conceded two goals in the final quarter of the game.

Cables Manager Brian Richardson made two changes from the team which had lost 7-2 at Mossley the previous week, Ben Cartwright and Sam Turner replacing Bram Johnstone and Danny Flood. He opted for a system of three centre backs with James Edgar and Valter Fernandes playing as attacking full backs to support the three players in central midfield.

Ramsbottom kicked off playing towards the Hope Street end.

However, it was Cables who created the first scoring opportunity on two minutes, Michael Simpson’s shot being deflected wide by another Cables player for a goal kick.

Simpson then crossed for Sam Turner who failed to connect with the ball and it was taken by Rams keeper Charlie Albinson. Ramsbottom took the lead on 6 minutes when the Cables defence failed to clear Darren Green’s low cross from the right, and the ball fell to Adam Hollingdrake who stroked the ball inside the near post from 12 yards.

Ramsbottom were now starting to assert their authority on the game and a cross from Josh Askew to the far post for Ryan Salmon was too long and sailed out of play.

Sam Freakes then went down the left cutting inside but he failed to get any power in his shot and Phil Priestley saved easily. Josh Askew then hit a shot high over the Cables cross bar and out of the ground into Hope Street.

Askew was playing a prominent role in Ramsbottom’s attacking threat and he crossed again from the left but Priestley collected comfortably. Ramsbottom were now laying siege to the Cables goal and Dean Stott crossed for Ryan Salmon whose shot was deflected narrowly wide of the far post for a corner kick.

After surviving this spell of pressure from Ramsbottom, Cables at last began to make some ground and Simpson had a shot blocked and so did Rob Doran as Cables forced a corner on the right.

The corner taken by Turner was hit long to the far post but was headed clear by the Rams defence. On 29 minutes Cables equalised when Valter Hernandes defence splitting pass freed Rob Doran on the right who scored with a precision finish inside the far post. A long ball for Dominic Marie troubled the Rams defence and Albinson had to come out of his penalty area to head the ball clear.

Ramsbottom were soon back on the attack and a cross by Green to the far post was headed wide by Salmon.

Hollingdrake then set up another opportunity for Salmon whose shot was saved by Priestley for a corner.

The corner by Grant Spencer was punched clear by Priestley.

Cables replied with Fernandes breaking down the right side and pulling the ball back for Ben Cartwright who fired over the bar. Ramsbottom created one more opportunity before half time, a cross field pass from Green finding Ryan Salmon who produced another fine save from Priestley.

The second half began as fog began to descend around the ground and Cables began in a positive manner launching the ball forward from the kick off for Dominic Marie but the Ramsbottom defence cleared. Ramsbottom continued to attack down the left side, Freakes cross being taken by Priestley.

Cables replied with James Edgar trying his luck from the left but his shot was over the bar.

Cables made a double substitution on 54 minutes, Josh Dowling and Danny Flood replacing Dominic Marie and Valter Fernandes.

On 59 minutes Ramsbottom reagained the lead when Darren Green’s long ball created an opportunity for Adam Hollingdrake who held off two Cables defenders before shooting past Priestley into the corner of the net.

Cables worked hard to get back in to the game and Dolling had certainly livened up the Cables attack since his introduction, linking up well with Rob Doran.

On 64 minutes Rob Doran played the ball inside to Jordan Wynn who was brought down inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot and Rob Doran stroked the ball home confidently from the spot kick to make it 2-2.

On 67 minutes Phil Priestley produced another fine save from Grant Spencer for a corner kick.

The corner swung in by Bradley Roscoe was collected under pressure by Phil Priestley who cleared.

The clearance was long and once again Rams keeper Albinson came out of his penalty area to head clear from Josh Dolling. On 69 minutes Ramsbottom regained the lead when a long ball from Bradley Roscoe put Ryan Salmon clean through on goal, and he looked anything but a fish out of water as he chipped the ball superbly over Phil Priestley into the net. Jamie McCulloch made a valiant attempt to stop the ball going over the goal line but was just too late.

Ramsbottom made two substitutions, Regan Jarrett replacing Darren Green and Matthew Atherton replacing Sam Freakes. On 80 minutes Ramsbottom were awarded a direct free kick in a dangerous position just outside the Cable penalty area.

Grant Spencer took the free kick and fired the ball over the Cables defensive wall into the top right hand corner of the net to put Ramsbottom 4-2 up.

Ramsbottom made their third and final change on 82 minutes, Natahniel Taylor replacing Adam Hollingdrake.

Cables never gave up, and Rob Doran had a shot over the bar and a shot saved at the second attempt by Albinson. However it was all to no avail as Ramsbottom comfortably played out the final minutes to take the three points.

Prescot Cables: Priestley, Fernandes, Edgar, McCulloch, Herbert, Cartwright, Turner, Simpson, Doran, Marie, Wynn. Substitutes: Dolling, Flood, Johnstone, Jones, Scarisbrick.

Ramsbottom United: Albinson, Roscoe, Askew, Stott, Thompson, Linwood, Green, Spencer, Salmon, Hollingdrake, Freakes. Substitutes: Taylor, Crankshaw, Atherton, Jarrett, Fildes.