IT was Danny Andrews’ party, but birthday boy Jamie Rainford brought the fizz for Witton.

The front man was decisive the last time he hit the net, on New Year’s Day, and was so again when Albion needed him to be.

They have yet to lose a game when he has scored.

Andrews, captain on the afternoon of his 200th appearance for the club, will not mind.

His teammates remain in the relegation zone, three points adrift of Frickley ahead of them, but this win – after five league fixtures without one – boosted their confidence.

Tony Sullivan’s men have now lost only once at Wincham Park in all competitions since October.

And with eight of their remaining 13 matches to be played on their own pitch, they can feel optimistic about their chances of staying up.

Rainford may not have been on target in more than seven weeks, but looked rejuvenated playing off debutant Lucas Molina.

On the day he turned 27, the striker reminded Albion fans of what they’ve been missing.

He swept in an opening goal after 16 minutes, giving Ramsbottom goalkeeper Grant Shenton no chance of making a save after Andrews allowed Craig Roddan’s cross from the right to roll into his path.

By then the hosts had survived a scare at the other end, Roddan smuggling Alex Frost’s header off the line from Donal McDermott’s out-swinging corner.

In a promising first-half performance, Roddan was unlucky to see a curling shot clip the crossbar after Molina, while practically lying down, nudged a pass his way.

When Sam Barnes headed too high from an Andrews flag kick, it felt like Witton were in control.

That grip loosened after Osebi Abadaki wriggled past Liam Goulding before blasting across the face of goal.

Then, from nothing, Rammy conjured an equaliser.

Jamie Rother, after pouncing on a ball that squirmed his way off Barnes, shot instinctively with power from 40 yards to catch out Witton custodian Ryan Swift.

It was a super strike.

But Albion, like last week when they overturned a two-goal deficit to draw with Barwell, were again a different beast in the second period.

Molina ought to have done better than to skew off-target from an Andrews centre, while Shenton reacted smartly to claw Zac Corbett’s header to safety.

Witton’s second goal was a worthy match-winner, Rainford steering low past the visitors’ custodian after Joe Shaw, following an exchange of passes with Anthony Gardner, had supplied a perfectly-weighted pass.

Andrews almost capped his milestone match with a score of his own but, on his weaker right foot, dragged wide.

Rammy were reduced to 10 men when Matthew Burke’s crunching tackle on Shaw was punished with a red card from referee David Croft, though they succeeded in making Albion’s lead feel flimsy in the closing stages.

Their best chance fell to Kyle Harrop, but Corbett deflected his drive to safety.

Witton (4-4-2) Swift (GK), Gardner, Barnes, Goulding, Corbett, Roddan (Dawson 71), Joe Shaw, Clark, Andrews, Rainford (Titchiner 85), Molina Subs not used Parker, John Shaw Goals Rainford 16, 58

Ramsbottom (4-4-2) Shenton (GK), Bowyer, Frost (Krou 44), Jones (Edghill 74), Pugh, Abadaki, Harrop, Burke, McDermott (Lazenbury 12), Gaskell, Rother Subs not used Brooks, Grayson Goal Rother 44 Booked Pugh, Edghill (both fouls) Sent off Burke (foul)

Referee David Croft

Attendance 349