Ramsbottom United...2 Prescot Cables...4: RUNAWAY leaders Prescot secured another three points, but it was far from easy for them as Ramsbottom put in a battling display that belied their position at the bottom of the table.

This was a much better performance from the Rams after their 7-0 mauling at Salford last week. Prescot went in front in the 10th minute. A fine pass from Mike Todd found in-form striker Steve Torpey on the edge of the box and he notched his 14th goal of the season with a powerful low drive into the bottom corner.

A good opportunity was wasted by the Rams Liam Bowden on 20 minutes after a good pass from Russell Brierley.

Brierley was again the provider on 23 minutes. Good work down the right-hand side ended with a deep cross finding Carl McCoy whose header was inches wide.

The Rams were now having plenty of possession and deservedly drew level in the 25th minute. A free-kick taken by Mark Brown found Ged Walsh at the back post. He headed back across goal and Brierley nipped in to level the scores.

The Rams went behind again in the 35th minute. A mistake by Bulwich on the edge of the box allowed Graforth to get a cross in and a goalmouth scramble ended with Todd turning the ball into the net.

The Rams were unlucky not to draw level in the 38th minute. Another good cross from the hardworking Brierley found Carl Lomax who turned and shot only to see the ball come back off a post.

He fired in the rebound and the ball cannonned off a Prescot defender for a corner.

On 42 minutes Prescot went 3-1 up. Torpey, who was a real thorn in Ramsbottom's side, was upended in the box by McCoy. Garforth stepped up to take the spot kick and scored at the second attempt after Marsh saved the first effort.

Marsh was called into action again on the stroke of half-time, producing two fantastic saves to keep the Rams in the game.

The second half started with Ramsbottom bringing on Scott Thomas for the ineffective Gardner and it was a Thomas corner in the 55th minute that got the Rams back into the game, Brierley turning the ball into the net to make it 3-2 to Prescot.

Against the run of play Prescot went 4-2 up in the 67th minute through John Benson.

The Rams were having plenty of the ball, but were always susceptible to the breakaway.

In the 75th minute Prescot were awarded a free-kick and Marsh produced another fine save to deny Karl Baker.

Brierley nearly grabbed his hat-trick in the 77th minute, narrowly heading wide from a Lomax cross.

The game ended with the Rams trying to grab another goal, but it was at the other end where Marsh had to bring off another fine string of saves.

Ramsbottom have some difficult games coming up and naive defending is costing them dearly. Having let in 11 goals in their last two games, the problems are clearly at the back.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Marsh 9, Raywood 8, McCoy 6, Walsh 6, Rispen 6, Brown 6, Bowdon 6, Bulwich 6, Brierley 8, Lomax 5, Gardner 5. Substitutes: Thomas, Porter, Weir.

Ramsbottom's next game is away at Fleetwood Freeport on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).