High excitement on the Fylde coast on Saturday afternoon as Ramsbottom United faced Squires Gate in bright Blackpool sunshine, writes Charley Rattan.

The Rams got off to a stellar start after just two minutes. A swift move by Richie Baker down the left led to the ball being driven across the box and met on the run by Tom Hoyle, who smashed it from an acute angle

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Even better was to follow four minutes later as the visitors, driven on by a midfield whose total football was cutting the home side apart, led to Raj Uppal locating Hoyle on the left-hand side of the box. Hoyle, back to his electrifying best, took a touch to control it - before placing it hard and low past Pennington for the second.

More goals should have followed as Pennington made a series of fabulous saves to keep his side in the game.

Inspired by Pennington’s heroics, the home side Squires started to find their way back into the game, but Rams went in at the break two-nil to the good and the smiles on their faces made a pleasant contrast to the expressions seen at Lower Breck a week before.

As the second half got underway the Rams picked up the tempo once more and won a corner in the 56th minute. Richie Baker drove it towards the far post and, as players worked out what was happening, a majestic high-leap from captain Andy Teague led to him thumping a powerful header back across Pennington and into the far corner of the net for the third - and surely seal the game.

The Rams were relentless and a few minutes later a corner from the other side once again found Teague’s highly visible head and his powerful downward header was clawed off the line by Pennington to the home side’s relief.

To their credit the stunned home team kept to their task and a series of substitutions led to an upping of their tempo. The visitors’ keeper Tom Davis made a great save to turn a powerful Squires Gate shot away for a corner. The reprieve however was short- lived, as the cross was met in the box a with a curious looping effort over Davis by Jack Coop which found its way into the far corner.

Suddenly the Rams were faced with having to defend things, made worse a few minutes later. With everybody expecting an offside flag - which didn’t come – a long run and a low shot by Scott Harries found its way past Davis and into the net.

It was now three-two, with plenty of time left. Suddenly the atmosphere was very different with anxiety creeping in. It was exacerbated when Tom Davis was booked for time wasting with a free kick in a dangerous edge of the box awarded. Fortunately, the dead ball was blazed over the bar and the chance wasted

Marshalled by Teague and Baker, the Rams regrouped for an exciting end to end finale and created further chances as they managed out the game.

Three more points and a deserved victory, albeit unnecessarily nerve-jangling, for the team and fans who have endured all emotions in the last week, as the players and supporters enjoyed celebrating an important three points together.

This is already a momentous and most enjoyable season. With 13 games left there is everything to play for and with a team as spirited as this, who knows where it might take them.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Davis, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Teague, Barlow, Winstanley,

Tinker(Lynch 60”), Baker, Uppal(Camara 65”), Whyte(Stacey 82”), Hoyle. Subs not used: Markland, Evans.