Rams remaining upbeat despite a Longridge leveller

The home club is clearly on the up with a smart stadium and pleasant backdrop of the Bowland Fells, but which also funnelled a piercing wind with deceptively cold conditions.

The Ridge started brightly and after 12 minutes a clever through ball from the left found striker Liam Atkinson just inside the box to produce an unerring low drive which beat Brad Rose for pace to find the far corner and give the home side an early lead.

The Rams appeared momentarily dazed, with an uphill task ahead. Prompted, however, by captain Richie Baker they forced their way into the contest and let loose goal machine - Jacob Holland Wilkinson.

The visitors pushed forward, winning a series of corners. Luke Barlow, marking his 100th appearance for his hometown club, pushed into the box in support as one was recycled by Baker for an in swinging cross headed goalwards by Luke Sephton. It crashed against the bar before being hacked to safety by a reeling home defence just able to cling on to the lead at the break.

Whatever was said in the Rams dressing room seemed to have an immediate effect as the team began to show real menace after the interval.

It was no surprise when, on 53 minutes, Holland- Wilkinson brought them level. A move across the front line found him 25 yards out. Never one to dally, he fired an accurate long-range, low strike which beat Charlie Brier in the home goal as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.

With the visitors deservedly back in the contest, daylight gave way to nightfall and the floodlights pierced the gloom as the icy cold took hold on those watching. Blue shirts appeared everywhere as they rediscovered the pleasing passing style which has served them so well.

On 66 minutes another Rams move down the right saw Oscar Radcliffe drive forward before producing a deep diagonal cross which was met with split-second timing by the head of Sephton. This time he was not to be denied by the goal frame as the pace helped him find the inside of the post and then the goal. As the team celebrated with Sephton they ran across to thank Radcliffe for the sublime assist.

The Rams sought to manage out the remaining minutes but, as ever, there was another contentious - and costly - decision.

Baker played a free-kick towards the corner flag rather than choose a more direct route to goal as the clock ticked down. The home side won the ball and crafted a counter which saw an incisive ball played to an apparently offside Jack Anderton. The Rams’ back line to a man appealed but the well-placed assistant’s flag stayed down and Anderton calmly moved into the box before slipping the ball under an exposed Rose for the equaliser two minutes from time.

Overall, and with a glass half-empty perspective the Rams will be disappointed two points slipped from their grasp. From a more realistic glass half-full point of view, the second half saw a return to the scintillating football which had seen the team put together 11 straight victories.

The season has reached the halfway stage and the Rams are handily placed in third on 52 points with everything to play for in this most enjoyable of campaigns. They go into the New Year full of hope and optimism.