RAMSBOTTOM United came from behind to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw against an organised Widnes side in Evo-Stik West.

The visiting Rammy side started brightly and in just the second minute Ryan Ellison connected with Phillip Dean’s free kick, but his header was glanced just over.

The bright start could be put down to an effective 4-5-1 formation in which Eddie Moran was placed just behind Lee Gaskell and won every header.

However, Gaskell was struggling to latch on to his flicks and it meant chances were at a premium.

Rammy would rue their lack of creativity in the early stages when, in the eighth minute, Dale Korie-Butler put the home side into the lead.

A freak mistake by the Rammy defence saw a misplaced header fall into the path of Korie-Butler who lofted the ball over Sam Ashton and into the goal.

The goal knocked the confidence of Ramsbottom and in the 18th minute Widnes went close with a shot from inside the box on the left-hand side.

Ramsbottom had their best chance of the game so far in the 31st minute, when the ball was played into the left channel and chased by Gaskell.

There was a mix-up in communication between Widnes defender Michael Burke and goalkeeper Ryan Nield and Gaskell pounced, Burke fell but the experienced striker just could not connect properly and it went wide.

The second half took some time to get going, and a change of approach saw Rammy return to the direct approach they started the game with and they began to push forward more.

In the 73rd minute they were finally rewarded thanks to a magnificent strike from Jerome Wright.

The captain picked up the ball in midfield, set himself and struck a low, hard shot that the keeper could not stop from nestling in the bottom right corner, despite getting a hand to the ball.

A common theme through the game was Ramsbottom’s difficulties in dealing with the Widnes long ball and this was evident again in the 81st minute when Ben Hodkinson was released down the left and unleashed a venomous shot that forced a tremendous save from Ashton as the Rams saw the game out professionally for a well-earned point.

Three days earlier, Rammy drew 2-2 at home to Chasetown.

It was new manager Chris Wilcock's first appearance in the Rammy dugout, taking over from Mark Fell who resigned only five days earlier.

The Rams began the new era on the front foot, and Chasetown, making their first ever visit to Ramsbottom, were under the cosh from the word go.

And the dominance paid off on 15 minutes when Luke Thompson rose highest from a corner to send the ball past Pond in the Chasetown net.

The visitors were living dangerously and their afternoon got worse when Gaskell was brought down in the box and referee Darren Brown had no choice but to point to the spot.

Jerome Wright converted with a finish straight down the middle to give Rammy a 2-0 lead.

Chasetown came roaring back in the 38th minute with a goal of their own when George Cater turned the ball home from a goalmouth scramble.

The second half began with a role reversal from the first as Chasetown spent the majority of the half on top, yet Ruben Jerome could have restored Rammy’s two-goal cushion midway through the half, only to be denied by Pond.

The final 15 minutes saw a charge at goal by Chasetown and brought a wonderful array of saves from Ashton.

However, Chasetown’s dominance prevailed as another mix-up in the Ramsbottom goal area saw Cater fire home a deserved leveller.

Rammy visit Trafford on Saturday for an FA Trophy tie, kick off 3pm.