Lawson determined to get the better of Ramsbottom

Mar 21 2013 by Philip Kirkbride, Skelmersdale Advertiser

DEFEAT against Skelmersdale United would land a damaging blow to Ramsbottom United's title hopes, according to Tommy Lawson.

The Skem manager insists the Manchester side must pick up three points on Saturday in order to keep their fading championship dreams alive.

United extended their lead over Ramsbottom at the top of the Evo-Stik First Division North with Tuesday night's win at home to Bamber Bridge.

Lawson's side are 14 points clear at the summit and hold a game in hand over their closest rivals.

A double strike from Josh Hine helped Skem to the midweek win and sets the side up for three testing games in the next week.

Following the visit of Ramsbottom, United entertain Trafford before heading to Salford City next weekend for a run of games Lawson has labelled as "significant".

And the Skem boss believes the impact of another win for his side in two days' time has the potential to shatter Ramsbottom's hopes.

"A win or draw for us would be disastrous for them," said Lawson.

"Let's be brutally honest about it, if they have got any aspirations to win the title then they have got to come out and try and win the game on Saturday.

"They can't afford to let another game slip. They have got to win the game.

"We know what to expect from them and the type of team they are. But we will treat them with the utmost respect.

"If we win then it will become very, very difficult for them to scratch it back, if we are being realistic.

"We've got 11 games still to play and there are 33 points to be fought for.

"We have come through the first game in a block of four which we identified as being “significant”.

"We played Bamber Bridge on Tuesday, then we face Ramsbottom, Trafford and Salford. We have made a great start to that.

"The games at Ramsbottom and Trafford are probably our two best performances of the season. It needed top, top performances to beat sides like that and you have got to be on your game."

Victory over Bamber took Skem onto 77 points for the season, two more than they finished the last campaign on.

Lawson, meanwhile, plans to add Southport goalkeeper Zac Hibbert to Skem's squad as cover for first choice stopper Sam Ashton.

Hibbert will be able to sign a dual registration which will allow him to play for both Port and United for the rest of the season.

Midfielder Aaron Turner is still awaiting key hole surgery on his knee but Tony Rendell goes under the knife this week to have cartilage shaved in his knee.

The defender has been out for most of the season but the operation should clear him for a return in pre-season.