Ramsbottom Utd...1 Curzon Ashton...1: RAMSBOTTOM United managed to cling to a 1-1 draw against Curzon after playing for half the game with nine men.

United started the game much the better team and were unlucky not to be a goal up in the first minute when Dave Gardner and Ian Walker both had shots cleared off the line before, in the fourth minute, Curzon keeper Peter Berry made a fine save to keep out a Scott Thomas free-kick.

Rammy's pressure finally paid off in the 26th minute when debut boy Gardner cooly chipped the keeper from 25 yards to put Rammy in the lead.

However, the game game boiled over on 30 minutes when a bad two-footed challenge on Gardner resulted in a skirmish between both sets of players, that resulted in Thomas being dismissed for retaliation.

The second half started with Rammy taking the game to Curzon, and in the first attack Russ Brierley played a ball out to the right flank and the resulting cross from Liam Bowden was scuffed wide by Brierley, who then challenged the keeper for the ball - only to be dismissed for what seemed a fair tackle.

This meant Rammy had to play the whole second half with nine men protecting a slender lead but this looked possible with lone striker Gardner holding the ball up well and new signing Jordan Rispen helping Ged Walsh keep things tight at the back.

It was a mistake form defender Chris McCoy on 69 minutes that got Curzon back into the game as a underhit back-pass allowed Colin Heywood to nip in and steer the ball past Marsh from 15 yards out to make it 1-1.

The remaining 20 minutes saw Curzon start to exert some pressure, but the Rams held firm and nearly stole the winner on 85 minutes when the impressive Gardner again went close.

All in all, it was a good performance from the Rams and much improved. The side can take great credit from their performance. More fighting qualities like this will see the Rams shoot up the table and maybe challenge for promotion.

Rammy entertain Squires Gate tonight at 7.45pm.

RAMSBOTTOM: Marsh 7, Bowden 7, Goodhall 7, Rispen 8, Walsh 8, McCoy 6, Thomas 6, Brown 7, Brierley 6, Gardner 9 (Blore), Walker 7(Bulwich).