Rammy's victory marred by serious injury

And Rammy made a bit of club history by progressing to the Second Round for the first time disposing of a mediocre Reds team, low on confidence, passion and initiative.

Not for the first time, five or six players weren’t at the races with the rest doing too much to compensate. That was never going to be enough against a confident home side who emerged comfortable winners by the finish.

Reds’ better players on the night had the lower numbers on their shirts, but it was two poor goals from a defensive perspective that cost them the game. The all important opener was either a touch of individual brilliance or schoolboy defending, but to save our defenders blushes we’ll hand the plaudits to Ruben Jerome.

He danced along the bye line showing strength and determination and a modicum of skill, riding three half-hearted tackles in the process. He then squeezed the ball past Aaran Taylor from an acute angle and the tie was as good as over.

The second goal, superbly dispatched by Nic Evangelinos, also had a bit of gift wrapping to it. Sam Smith appeared to win a tackle but no one reacted to the second ball except Evangelinos who advanced unchallenged towards Aaran Taylor. He lashed the ball past the helpless ‘keeper rubber-stamping the victory with fifteen minutes to go.

But Rammy’s celebrations were put on hold when the game was delayed for over half an hour due to a terrible injury to Nialle Rodney. The speedy attacker was bearing in on goal and appeared to fall awkwardly between Taylor and Wordsworth, immediately signalling he had been hurt.

When play resumed, Reds huffed and puffed to try and salvage something from the game but to no avail.

They had looked in with a chance of winning the contest in the first half when both Conor Tinnion and Jason Walker were thwarted by Sam Ashton saves. Then Sam Joel, Reds’ best outlet on the night, saw a low shot rebound off the upright with the ‘keeper helpless.

But they ran out of ideas long before the end and the hosts could have added to their unassailable lead had Regan Jarrett’s shot crept in instead of rattling the bar.

Rammy can now contemplate a home tie with Weymouth in the next round while Reds turn their attentions to finding a successor to David Hewson who quit within minutes of the final whistle.

Ramsbottom United Ashton, Kennedy, Osi-Efa, Moran, Thompson, Ellison, Rodney (Jarrett, 81), Rother, Jerome, Donaldson, Evangelinos. Substitutes – Rowe, Parker, Hart, Foulds (not used).

Workington Taylor, Douglas, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Smith, Hubbold (Paterson, 77), Joel (Holt, 81), Cowperthwaite, Walker, Allison, Tinnion. Substitutes – Casson, Mellen, Harker (not used).

Referee Tom Parsons, Rochdale

Booking: Wordsworth (Workington)

Attendance: 170