RAMSBOTTOM United made it into the first round proper of the FA Trophy following a welcome 3-1 win at home to Sheffield – their conquerors in this season's FA Cup.

The feral growl of triumph that emanated from the throat of each Rams player at the final whistle followed by the celebratory banging of the changing room walls spoke eloquently of how much this win meant after a difficult start to their league campaign.

After dropping down from the Evo-Stik Premier Division last season, Rammy are 19th after 10 games in First Division North, just one point above the drop zone.

So Saturday's win and performance, albeit some distance short of faultless, was more important than progression in the FA Trophy.

Mark Fell and Paul Fildes' side took advantage of uncertain defending to race into a three-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

The impressive Ryan Salmon bustled into the box and squared the ball for Gareth Seddon to score a scruffy opener after three minutes and the Rams doubled their lead eight minutes later with a looping header by Matt Atherton.

Atherton then set up Ollie Crankshaw to drill home Rammy's third goal at far post.

At that early stage a comfortable stroll in the sun seemed to be on offer, but this was to ignore the spirit and resilience of the visitors.

Sam Finlaw dropped into the pocket and began to dominate – the ball finding him like a magnet and every pass accurate and asking of questions.

A switch of wings by Atherton and Crankshaw produced no positive result and combined with a loss of shape and composure that allowed Sheffield to build up more possession.

They spurned two inviting headers in the six-yard box from corners before a third corner fell invitingly on to the foot of Jamie Hadfield to reduce the arrears.

The Rams' cause was not helped by the loss of Seddon to injury at half time and with some recurring themes of the season began to reappear.

Rammy dwelled too long on the ball in dangerous areas and spurned the easy pass.

Much relied on the resistance of Luke Thompson and Paul Linwood to prevent a second Sheffield goal.

A second Sheffield goal would have provided a real test to the Rammy resolve, but the loss of the inspirational Finlaw to injury with 15 minutes remained took the win out of the visitors' sails.

They continued to flood forward and gaps began to appear, leading to two comic moments that will live long in the memory.

First Crankshaw managed to fall into the path of Jake Cliffe's sidefoot into an otherwise empty net following good work by Salmon.

Then he combined with Salmon and set up Cliffe for another gilt-edged at the far post which he somehow ballooned into the trees.

The Rams will now entertain Prescot Cables/Ossett Albion in the next round, while Osset Albion provide the opposition at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium in the league on Saturday.