Runcorn Linnets manager Dave Wild has urged his side to follow up their impressive win over Macclesfield against Ramsbottom United.
Second-half goals from Ryan Brooke and Jamie Rainford handed David McNabb his first defeat as Silkmen boss to assert Linnets further in the playoff spots.
The gap between themselves and Tuesday opponents was cut to eight points but with a game in hand, Runcorn Linnets can push higher up the Northern Premier League West table as four points separate them and second-placed Leek Town.
However, they face a difficult trip to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium on Saturday. In recent weeks, Ramsbottom have found form picking up four points from their last two but still sit in a precarious position in 19th – just three points off safety.
Wild is under no illusions of the threat they possess, especially from one man – who he had signed in the summer who has since moved to the Rams.
He told Off The Park: “Ramsbottom is a really tough game. I’ve had some good hidings at Ramsbottom down the years, they’ve got Dan Halfacre up front now who will be chomping at the bit to stick it at some of the really disrespectful situations that happened at the start of the season so it’s going to be a tough game.
“They drew 0-0 and won 2-0 in their last two so they’ve turned a bit of a corner defensively, bringing Kelvin Lugsden in has strengthened them defensively so it’s another tough game and another one we’ve got to go and perform.
“It’s gone, soon as the whistle went it’s done – it’s three points and that’s all it is,” he said, highlighting the importance of the next game. “Just because it’s Macclesfield and they’re top of the league doesn’t mean anything, it means nothing if we don’t back it up at Ramsbottom.”
He added: “We want to go up, I’ve said it from minute one and my interview with the board. I’ve not come in to finish 10th, we want to get promoted, the club wants to get promoted, it’s pretty evident it’s [the club] is in a place to get promoted and it’s over to us to get it done.
“Today [Tuesday] is a step in the right direction, we know we’re a really good force and that’s becoming clear so it’s up to us to roll our sleeves up and deal with that.”
Last weekend, Linnets went toe-to-toe with National League North side Spennymoor Town. Despite feeling frustrated from their clash, Wild took the positives from the week as a whole.
He reflected: “Bit frustrated to be honest, I feel like it was an opportunity missed, we went there and froze for the first half-an-hour, me included.
“I think we felt out of our depth, we went in addressed it, ripped the mantle piece up, went 4-2-4 and give them a good go but a bit of an opportunity missed.
“At the end of the day, if you said to me this time last week that we’d play Chester, Spennymoor and Macclesfield, you’d beat Chester, Macclesfield and take Spennymoor to the last kick of the game, I think everyone would’ve took that, it was a positive week.”
[Featured image: Neil Phillip Thornton]
