RAMSGATE 3 HORSHAM 2

RAMSGATE:
1.Paul Wilkerson 2.Ashley Burton 3.Dean Hill 4.Nick Davis 5.Dan Tanner (King) 6.Ben Laslett 7.Sam Jones (Powell) 8.Warren Schulz 9.Lenny Piper (Firth) 10.Andy Hadden 11.Dan Dolton Subs: 12.Stuart King 14.Aaron Firth 15.Simon Pettit  16.Dean Powell17.Shaun Alliston
Scorers: Jones (22,82), Schulz (32)

HORSHAM:
1.Alan Mansfield 2.Tom Graves 3.Dean Lovegrove (Farrell) 4.Eddie French 5.Andrew Howard 6.Matthew Geard 7.Gavin Bolger 8.Kevin Hemsley (Davis) 9.Jacob Mingle 10.Gary Charman 11.Dwain Clark Subs: 12.Lee Farrell 14.Simon Austin 15.Danny Davis 16.Mark Hawthorne 17.Rob Frankland
Scorers: Laslett (og,15), French (44)

reporter: Jim Bravery
photographs: John Lines

Horsham’s feint chance of claiming a promotion play-off spot were all but ended by fellow hopefuls Ramsgate who gained revenge for their 3-2 FA Trophy defeat earlier in the season thanks to a brace of goals from 20 year old Sam Jones. The youngster, spotted playing Sunday league football by Rams' boss Jim Ward only a few weeks ago, scored his first goal for the Kent club on 22 minutes before grabbing the decisive winner 8 minutes from time to send the Hornets spinning to their 3rd successive defeat and leaving them with only a mathematical, if highly unlikely, possibility of finishing in the top 5 places.

With both sides level on points prior to kick off, and with Ramsgate's goal difference slightly better than that of the Hornets, a victory was vital for both teams if they were to retain their outside chance of promotion  - a prospect shared by at least half a dozen other clubs. However, both teams were bereft of vital players for such an important match and Ward had to shuffle his pack as Ollie Schulz, Lee Minshull, Stuart Vahid and Steve Martin were all missing while opposite number John Maggs was missing no fewer than 5 first team players and the likes of Jacob Mingle, Gary Charman, Alan Mansfield and Kevin Hemsley were all carrying injuries.

Heavy black clouds formed the backdrop as this game finally got underway at 15.04, the bottom goal net requiring some last minute repairs by the officials before the game could start on a firm and uneven pitch and, with a stiff swirling wind, ball control was clearly going to be difficult.

With Horsham attacking the changing room end they started the game well, taking the early initiative in an unusual line up with Hemsley playing wide right, Mingle and Charman as the two front strikers and Dwain Clark wide left. With the returning Dean Lovegrove slotting in at left back, it was going to be interesting to see how things would pan out.

Clark’s pace was causing early problems for the Rams' defence, regularly having the beating of Ashley Burton, and putting immense pressure on the home defence but it was Charman who was the first to try a shot when, cutting in from the left, he tried a long shot but Paul Wilkerson got everything behind it to make a routine save. Hemsley was awarded a free kick some twenty yards into the Ramsgate half, after Dan Tanner had caught him while challenging for the ball, and the loose ball then rolled to Mingle who was unceremoniously dumped on his backside by the recovering Tanner who seemed to injure himself during this episode and could be seen rubbing his leg and limping, also suffering a lecture from referee Phil Knight for the double foul. From the free-kick the Hornets won a corner, Lovegrove’s kick found Tom Graves unmarked and his downward header caused panic in the Rams defence until skipper Warren Schulz came to the rescue with a header over the goal line for another corner.

At the other end, Ramsgate’s first meaningful attack saw Jones try his luck as he cut inside the penalty area and hit a low skidding shot that surprised Mansfield in the Hornets' goal, the 'keeper only able to turn it round the post at the expense of a corner which saw Mr Knight rule in Mansfield's favour after being impeded although the hosts might justifiably had claims for a penalty when Lenny Piper fell in a heap under Mansfield's challenge. Horsham were still seeing more of the ball and making inroads toward goal and, from Graves' long throw, Charman headed the ball into the path of Clark who sent a raking shot across the goal where it missed the far post by inches with Wilkerson well beaten. Another Graves throw again found Charman but his back header fell nicely into the keeper's hands.

The visitors got their noses in front on 16 minutes when a harmless looking cross to the far post by Hemsley saw Rams defender Ben Laslett, facing his own goal, power his header past the hapless Wilkerson for a classic own goal  that was no more than Horsham deserved for their earlier determination.

The lively Jones was a constant nuisance, running at and taking on Lovegrove at every opportunity, and one cross into the box looked to be making it’s way to the unmarked Piper only for the outstretched hand of Mansfield to thwart the home striker. Piper forced Mansfield into another save after connecting with an inch perfect cross from the dangerous Dan Dolton as the home side started to enjoy a bit more possession.

The scores were level again on 22 minutes when Jones collected a great cross from Dolton, rounded Lovegrove and, although seemingly scuffing his shot, saw the ball take a wicked bobble leaving Mansfield to pick the ball out of the net and all the good early work had been cancelled out in a rare attack. Mingle almost immediately restored the lead after Charman had made a mazy run, leaving three defenders in his wake, but his final effort was too high and a gilt edged chance was wasted. Mingle's wayward shooting was again to the fore as he managed to side foot a shot wide of the post after being set up by the hard working Clark.

With half an hour of the match gone, Ramsgate were lucky not to commit another sin when Clark once again beat Burton but his hard hit cross into the six yard box seemed to hit Wilkerson on the foot, sending the ball spiralling up in the air, and Nick Davis rose highest only to send his attempted clearing back header against the upright and Charman could only head the rebound wide of the far post.

The Hornets' defence was breached again in the 32nd minute when nice interplay between the lively Dolton and Piper saw the former get past Graves and his perfect cross was knocked into the unmarked Schulz who firmly buried his header past the exposed Mansfield from 8 yards out to send the home fans crazy. A spell of home pressure followed and two efforts from the previously quiet Andy Hadden saw his first effort go just past the post and his second needed a deflection to force it wide when it looked odds on the third goal was on its way. With half time fast approaching, Burton for once dispossessed Clark and his cross to the far post found Dolton who headed back into the area where Schulz somehow put his shot wide of the goal.

A minute later and it was Horsham's turn to attack. Matt Geard was brought down, some 25 yards out, and Clark put the ball into the danger area where a partially headed clearance landed at the unlikely figure of Eddie French who connected perfectly to send a stunning volley past the helpless Wilkerson and into the top corner of the net. There was still time for the visitors to carve out another couple of chances. Clark put Mingle through but his shot went wide and that was followed, on the stroke of half time, with good build up play that saw Mingle's delicate backheel putting Hemsley in on goal but his left footed shot was unconvincingly saved by Wilkerson at the second attempt before the referee brought the first half to a close.

H/T Ramsgate 2 Horsham 2

With the players duly refreshed, the second half got underway with no changes to the line ups and it was Ramsgate, with their own supporters behind Mansfield’s goal, getting in the first chance of the half when a Laslett cross found the head of Dolton at the back post but, although the direction looked good, it could only take the paint off the outside of the post with Mansfield rooted to the spot.

Hemsley was the first player to be substituted on 52 minutes, having received treatment on the far side he made it clear to the bench he couldn’t continue, his replacement was Danny Davis. After the early scare, the Hornets started to build up a few attacks of their own without really testing Wilkerson who seemed content to let his own defence clear the ball away to safety as crosses from Clark, Gavin Bolger and Davis all evaded the Hornets strikers.

Jim Ward's first replacement saw Aaron Firth on for Piper in the 59th minute, hoping fresh legs might do the trick to find a winner. Play was becoming more end to end with defences becoming stretched as both teams tried to get a stranglehold on the game and a fit Mingle might have reached a long through ball but Wilkerson was quickest off his line to save. Having just entered the last quarter of the game, Horsham were awarded a free kick for a foul on Geard, some 25 yards out. Clark’s low skidding shot through the wall was heading for the bottom corner but the Rams 'keeper was at full stretch to turn it round the post for a corner. The resulting kick found French stretching to reach the ball, his header fell nicely to Geard on the edge of the area and his first time volley almost caught the keeper by surprise but, unfortunately for the visitors, he didn’t have to move to complete the save.

Meanwhile Firth tried to chase onto a long through ball from Wilkerson but only managed to foul the covering Andy Howard, the central defender needing treatment before resuming. Mingle managed to get past Tanner after picking up a through ball and, with the Rams central defender laying on the ground injured, the game carried on for a couple of minutes before Davis finally conceded a corner to allow his team mate some attention. The way he limped away to the touchline it was clear he couldn’t continue but, with no sub warmed up, the Rams had to play on with ten men, skipper Schulz dropping back to cover for the missing defender, until they were able to get Stuart King on during a break in play to bring them back up to full strength.

Geard again fancied his chances with another shot from 25 yards and, once more, the home stopper was equal to it, turning it away for a corner, Wilkerson no doubt recalling last season's 25 yard goal from Geard that left him red faced. A Graves free kick found Charman chasing the ball to the goal line and, under pressure from a defender, he laid a perfect pass into Clark’s path who thundered a left footed shot that took enough of a deflection to shave the angle of bar and post.

Another cross into the area saw Danny Davis with a golden opportunity to knock the ball past the stranded 'keeper but totally miskicked it and a chance for Charman to get onto the loose ball only resulted in a free kick for the home side. The resulting clearance caught French in two minds and his under strength back header left the advancing Mansfield in no man’s land, Firth nipped in between them and laid a perfect pass to the unmarked Jones who coolly slotted a right footer into the vacant net giving the Rams the lead with only 8 minutes left on the clock.

Maggs' responded by bringing on Lee Farrell in place of left back Lovegrove in a last ditch attempt to try to retrieve the situation, the Hornets now playing with three across the back. Ramsgate made their final change moments later, taking the double goalscorer off to a great home reception, Dean Powell coming on to see out the final minutes.

Clark was put through down the left but, as he went to cross the ball, it bobbled causing the ball to slice off the outside of his boot and into the Hornets supporters behind the goal. Home skipper Schulz, who was playing deeper to protect the lead, was adjudged to have fouled Geard some 20 yards out but Mingle’s goalbound effort hit a defender and went out for a corner that came to nought. That was to be the last chance for the visitors as the home side played keep ball in the corner to run down the clock, keeping the Rams' slim chances of a play off place alive. The Hornets' long campaign is virtually over as far as the league goes with the only chance of any silverware now resting with the Brighton Charity Cup.

Next week's last ever home league fixture at Queen Street will bring the curtain down on a memorable 104 years of football at the quaint old ground. In a year that has seen Maggs' team post new records, it is sure to be a bit of a tear jerker for anybody who has been associated with the club over the years. With, hopefully, players from the two previous F.A.Cup third round matches against Notts County and Swindon present, along with the current squad who reset the history pages by taking this year's second round match with newly promoted Swansea to a replay at their new Liberty Stadium in front of 6000 supporters, this is definitely something the club should be very proud of and a fitting tribute to the old ground.

I, for one, hope all regular and part time supporters make every effort to attend next Saturday and lets raise the roof off the stands with the support the club deserves. Win, lose or draw this team deserves all the accolades we can bestow on them including past players now plying their trade at rival clubs. Lets give this lovely old ground an emphatic goodbye.

NEXT MATCH: v Pagham (a) Thursday 17th April ko 7.45pm