NOT even a minor blizzard could stop Ramsbottom United from easing to a 3-0 victory over bottom side Goole on Saturday to record their first league win since the end of January.

The visitors created the better chances in the opening exchanges, with Sam Ashton making a couple of fine saves to keep the game scoreless, but it was the Rams who broke the deadlock in the 20th minute via the penalty spot.

Greg Daniels was brought down in the box after controlling a long throw from Jerome Wright, and he slotted in the spot-kick.

Goole looked to restore parity as the half progressed, but it was United who doubled their advantage as the half-time whistle approached. A sublime ball down the line from Jamie Rother found Phil Dean, who cut inside and fired a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Things went from bad to worse for Goole just before the break when substitute Sam Leigh was sent off without having entered the field of play for a touchline altercation.

The Rams started the second half strongly, with Dean drawing a fine save from the Goole goalkeeper and Zehn Mohammed seeing his tantalising cross scrambled to safety at the last moment.

United handed the men from Yorkshire a lifeline when a driving run into the box resulted in a penalty, but Ashton was on hand to make a brilliant double save, guessing the right way and then recovering in time to shut out the rebound.

After a brief delay for the lines on the pitch to be cleared, Accrington loan man Mohammed added some gloss to the scoreline by heading home a Dean corner in added time.

The Rams added a second home win on Tuesday evening when Mohammed scored the only goal of the game against Atherton Collieries.

The game’s decisive moment came just after the hour mark. With Colls’ towering defender Matt Grimshaw off the field for treatment, a set piece into the visitors’ box was not cleared and Mohammed pounced to slam in the winner.