THE Rams kept up the pressure at the top of the table with a fantastic away win at one of their main challengers for promotion in what is turning out to be a fascinating chase for the North West Counties Premier Division title.

Runcorn Town, who have applied for promotion, went into the match in fourth and on the back of a 5-0 win at Atherton LR.

They took the fight straight to second-placed Ramsbottom from the kick-off, with a series of crunching tackles setting the tone for the day.

Rammy’s bid to play their fast-paced pass and move game proved impossible on a poor pitch against a team willing to battle for every ball.

Yet with just six minutes gone, the Rams took control of the match with Jordan Hulme’s first goal for the club. He controlled a knock down from Lee Gaskell before planting a low drive drive past the Runcorn keeper that just beat the desperate lunges of two covering defenders.

The rest of the half swung from end to end, with good chances spurned by both sides and some fine saves keeping the score at 1-0 at the break.

The visitors were again quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half, with captain Andy Dawson’s towering header from a Phil Dean free kick doubling Ramsbottom’s lead on 48 minutes.

Rammy’s second goal only increased Town’s resolve and they found a way back into the game on 61 minutes. Another Rams attack was cleared and an inch-perfect pass sent Runcorn substitute Jason Carey racing behind the defence before he powered a low angled drive past on-rushing keeper Grant Shenton.

The Runcorn goal put the game on a knife-edge with both teams trading chances up to the 90th minute when Rams striker Jon Robinsion, returning after a broken toe, threaded a ball through to fellow substitute Rob Grimes, who settled the game with a lashed shot from 10 yards.

Ramsbottom will hope to build on that performance with a home win against 16th-placed Silsden on Saturday, as they bid to close the one-point gap on league leaders Bootle.

See this week's Bury Times for a full round-up of the region's amateur football action.