2025 Groundhop: Ramsbottom United 2-3 FC St Helens
Fri 28th February 2025 | Match Reviews | By Ben Wilkinson
Over 550 fans were in attendance on a bitterly cold night at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium as FC St Helens mounted a stunning comeback to overcome Ramsbottom United.
Hats featuring various club crests were aplenty amongst the 551 in attendance in Ramsbottom for the opening game of the 2025 Groundhop as spectators from all over the country took in the first of seven matches across all three divisions.
The hosts, 2nd in the Premier Division, imposed themselves from the get-go and had a chance to open the scoring inside 10 minutes as Luke Sephton latched onto a Harvey Hayhurst through ball, however Joe Mason in the FC St Helens goal was equal to it and did superbly to deny the Rammy number 9.
The pair linked up again after 22 minutes when Hayhurst’s centred ball was flicked towards goal by Sephton, however it looped over the bar.
While the half remained goalless, chances were aplenty and FC St Helens nearly took the lead themselves through an acrobatic effort from Connor Spiers in the dying embers of the half.
The blue touchpaper was lit just three minutes into the second period through a move started and finished by Harvey Whyte. He lofted the ball for Thomas Hoyle to surge forward before squaring the ball back to Whyte for him to rifle the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring. Not long later and the home side’s advantage was doubled, Thomas Hoyle putting Rammy two goals to the good and surely making sure of the points…
Cometh the hour, cometh the man as Joe Barker halved the deficit with a fantastic bullet header to turn Liam Cuthbert’s cross beyond Rammy ‘keeper Andre Da Silva Mendes to give the away side some hope going into the final hour.
The tide of the game had turned as the ‘Stripes’ gained momentum and on 74 minutes the inevitable equaliser materialised through Connor Spiers’ stunning volley from a Jack Ball delivery. At this stage both sides were going hell for leather to find a winner and as we entered added time it came the way of the visitors when Spiers controlled the ball and powered the ball home to send the travelling fans and officials ecstatic and complete the comeback.
Referee Reiss Ford blew for time shortly after to bring a scintillating night of North West Counties football to a close.
2025 Groundhop: Ramsbottom United 2-3 FC St Helens
Fri 28th February 2025 | Match Reviews
By Ben Wilkinson
Over 550 fans were in attendance on a bitterly cold night at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium as FC St Helens mounted a stunning comeback to overcome Ramsbottom United.
Hats featuring various club crests were aplenty amongst the 551 in attendance in Ramsbottom for the opening game of the 2025 Groundhop as spectators from all over the country took in the first of seven matches across all three divisions.
The hosts, 2nd in the Premier Division, imposed themselves from the get-go and had a chance to open the scoring inside 10 minutes as Luke Sephton latched onto a Harvey Hayhurst through ball, however Joe Mason in the FC St Helens goal was equal to it and did superbly to deny the Rammy number 9.
The pair linked up again after 22 minutes when Hayhurst’s centred ball was flicked towards goal by Sephton, however it looped over the bar.
While the half remained goalless, chances were aplenty and FC St Helens nearly took the lead themselves through an acrobatic effort from Connor Spiers in the dying embers of the half.
The blue touchpaper was lit just three minutes into the second period through a move started and finished by Harvey Whyte. He lofted the ball for Thomas Hoyle to surge forward before squaring the ball back to Whyte for him to rifle the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring. Not long later and the home side’s advantage was doubled, Thomas Hoyle putting Rammy two goals to the good and surely making sure of the points…
Cometh the hour, cometh the man as Joe Barker halved the deficit with a fantastic bullet header to turn Liam Cuthbert’s cross beyond Rammy ‘keeper Andre Da Silva Mendes to give the away side some hope going into the final hour.
The tide of the game had turned as the ‘Stripes’ gained momentum and on 74 minutes the inevitable equaliser materialised through Connor Spiers’ stunning volley from a Jack Ball delivery. At this stage both sides were going hell for leather to find a winner and as we entered added time it came the way of the visitors when Spiers controlled the ball and powered the ball home to send the travelling fans and officials ecstatic and complete the comeback.
Referee Reiss Ford blew for time shortly after to bring a scintillating night of North West Counties football to a close.
