MARK Fell’s first match in sole charge of Ramsbottom United ended with a welcome 1-0 win at home to Kendal Town on Friday.

Joint manager Paul Fildes stepped down last week after Rammy’s Boxing Day defeat at local rivals Radcliffe Borough.

Fildes and Fell, who had previously worked together at Nelson, were appointed as a management duo in the summer.

They enjoyed a solid if not spectacular start to their joint reign but after seven wins, five draws and eight defeats Rammy were closer to the relegation battle than the play-off places when Fildes announced his decision to leave for “personal reasons”.

Damien Green’s 32nd-minute strike proved enough to earn a useful three points against mid-table Kendal to give Fell the perfect start. Visiting keeper Will Kitchen’s punched clearance landed at Green’s feet and his low drive from 25 yards found a path through defenders into an empty net.

Rammy were reduced to 10 men early in the second half after Ryan Salmon was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident picked up by the assistant referee. The same official then ruled out a headed goal from Gareth Seddon, deeming the Rammy striker offside despite seemingly being put through by a Kendal player.

Rammy proved to be the better side despite being down to 10 men and were well worth the victory on their second-half display.

After Monday’s match at home to Clitheroe was postponed due to a frozen pitch, Fell’s men are 15th in the Evo-Stik First Division North table, with games in hand over most of the teams above them in mid-table.