RAMSBOTTOM United face bottom of the league Stone this weekend on the back of two excellent cup victories on the road, writes Marc Higginson.

Lee Sculpher's men have beaten Blackpool Mechanics (1-0) and Holker Old Boys (4-0) in the past seven days and the player-manager couldn't be more happier.

Sculpher said: "I'm delighted with the two cup victories and was particularly pleased to see Lee Cryer get a hat-trick against Holker Old Boys.

"Lee has regained some confidence now and I always expected him to score once that happens.

"With Lee, Stewart Cartridge, Anthony Johnson and the return to fitness of Matt Barnes, we have some good competition up-front now and the quality coming off the bench is what pleases me the most.

"It's also nice to have two clean sheets in the last couple of games.

"We have started to get a settled back four and John Blackley was immense.

"I was also pleased to get 90 minutes under my belt on Tuesday night."

Despite confidence being sky-high in the Riverside camp, Sculpher is guarding against complacency in the clash with Stone.

He said: "We only drew with Stone earlier in the season and we have to make sure we win the game before we start talking about how many we are going to score.

"Stone have conceded a lot of goals this year and are stuck at the bottom, so we should win but we have to be professional about it.

"We have only lost one game in eleven now and that means confidence is high in the dressing room.

On the playing front, the Rams have lost defender Matt Raywood to Derek Egan's Rossendale United but Sculpher remains unfazed.

Sculpher said: "On a personal level I was disappointed and I thought he might have stayed the season with us and see what might happen.

"He has been a very good right-back for us and will take some replacing, but it is an opportunity for someone else to come in and stake their claim."