RAMSBOTTOM United made it four games without a win after following up Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Prescot Cables with a 3-1 defeat against promotion chasers Colwyn Bay on Tuesday night.

Luke Denson scored a goal in each half for Colwyn Bay and while Bradley Roscoe pulled one back with four minutes to play to give Rammy hope of an unlikely point, they conceded a third in the final minute as they pushed for an equaliser.

The Rams' second 3-1 midweek defeat in a row followed an improved display against Prescot at the weekend, when Dean Stott levelled for the home side at the end of the first half to cancel out a Nia Bayunu own goal.

But it seems that draw just papered over the cracks of a faltering start to life in the Evo-Stik First Division North, with the Rams struggling to kick start their campaign down in 19th place, three points above the drop.

They were off the boil and off the pace from the start on Tuesday night, lacking communication and organisation against a Colwyn Bay team that had both of those attributes in abundance.

They also had the game's exceptional player in Chris Gahgan, who demonstrated an ability to get on the ball in a range of positions and pose a threat from anywhere on the pitch.

By the time Colwyn Bay took the lead just after the half hour they had spurned at least two good chances to score, with Will Jones the biggest culprit after missing a number of headers from close range.

When the opening goal eventually came it was from an unlikely source, right-back Denson taking advantage of a quick free kick to steal into the box and toe poke past Jack Cookson with the Rams midfield and defence in a state of slumber.

Ryan Salmon's half volley, which screamed just wide, was the closest the Rams came to scoring before Denson added his second on the night with a free kick around the wall that found the bottom corner.

The Rams showed little chance of finding a way back into the game before full-back Roscoe turned in Salmon's downward header.

There was the brief prospect of a forward charge to grab an unlikely equaliser but Colwyn Bay always looked dangerous on the counter attack and Danny Andrews seized on a weak header to run clear and round Cookson to put a gloss on the score.

It was a deserved win for Colwyn Bay that asked more questions of Rammy's direction, and a clear step backwards after signs of improvement on Saturday.

The Rams had gifted Prescot a goal when Bayunu, under no discernible pressure, somehow managed to turn an innocuous cross past his own keeper.

That followed a let-off when the visitors saw a header bounce back off the underside of the bar, but that was Prescot's only sniff at goal.

From then on Rammy grew in assurance and finally levelled with six minutes of the first half remaining when Gareth Seddon's header bounced back off the bar and Stott was on hand to hammer in the rebound.

Luke Thomson had a goal ruled out for offside, Alex Meaney had a goalbound effort deflected wide and Luke Myers headed against the bar as Rammy pressed for the winner, which eluded them.

Ramsbottom travel to mid-table Glossop North End this weekend as they bid to get their season back on track.