HORSHAM 1 RAMSGATE 1

HORSHAM:
1.Paul Seuke 2.Stuart Myall 3.Nigel Brake (Geard) 4.Andy Howard 5.Tom Graves 6.Lee Carney (Austin) 7.Jacob Mingle 8.Lewis Taylor 9.Lee Farrell 10.Chamal Fenelon 11.Gary Charman Subs: 12.Eddie French 14.Kevin Hemsley 15.Simon Austin 16.Matt Geard 17.Alan Mansfield
Scorers: Fenelon (59)

RAMSGATE:
1.Paul Wilkerson 2.Lewis Dark  3.Dean Hill 4.Nick Davis  5.Dan Tanner 6.Ben Laslett 7.Damien Abel (Vahid, King) 8.Andy Hadden 9.Lee Minshull 10.Steffan Ball 11.Dan Dolton. Subs: 12.Michael Philips 14.Warren Schulz 15.Stuart Vahid 16.Stuart King 17.Will Graham
Scorers: Minshull (48)

Reporter: Mark Wells
Photographs: John Lines

John Maggs was left counting the cost of this competitive and often ill-tempered encounter that saw two dismissals and a clutch of bookings administered by referee Mackrell that did neither side's promotion hopes many favours.

Lee Carney faces up to three weeks on the sidelines after his and Nigel Brake's involvement lasted less than 20 minutes after picking up injuries during a niggly, tempestuous first half that ended, perhaps inevitably, with the sending-off of Ramsgate skipper Dean Hill for an off-the-ball incident involving Lee Farrell. Matt Geard's second half dismissal left the home side with a mountain to climb, trailing at that stage to Lee Minshull's 48th minute penalty, but a classy finish from Chamal Fenelon restored parity to set up a frantic and exciting final half hour in which end to end football, rather than personal vendettas, became the order of the day.

Ramsgate had failed to pick up a point in any of the previous three league meetings between the two sides and that, coupled with Horsham's 3-2 success in October's FA Trophy tie, made Maggs' side the favourites to pick up the three points that would see them leapfrog their opponents in to 7th place in the Ryman Premier Division table.

The hosts made just the one change to the side that defeated AFC Hornchurch at the weekend with Stuart Myall taking the captain's armband from Kevin Hemsley, who dropped to the bench, with Tom Graves moving alongside Andy Howard in the centre of defence. The visitors handed a first start to Damien Abel, their recent signing from Folkestone Invicta while, up front, former Hornet Steffan Ball was looking to add to his season's tally of 13 goals. Backed by a vocal travelling 'army' of around of 30 supporters, Ramsgate took to the field with their physical stature belying a reputation for their combative, aggressive style of play with only 8' 6" Ball standing out.

Just seven minutes in Brake went down in agony, clutching his knee after jarring it in a collision with Abel, and was a relative bystander as Howard produced the game's first effort on goal, a left footed shot that sliced wide of the target from 25 yards. Farrell turned well in the box but was superbly kept out by Dan Tanner before Ball's loping stride took him clear of the Horsham rearguard only to blaze his shot high into the trees at the Cowshed end of the ground.

Brake's pleas to be withdrawn became more vociferous by the minute and his ugly challenge on Ball reaffirmed his frustration at being kept on the pitch before Maggs relieved him of his anguish by sending on Geard in his place on 15 minutes. Horsham's night got worse when Carney followed his team-mate off the field, after failing to recover from an ankle injury suffered from Minshull's late tackle moments before, with Simon Austin entering the fray somewhat earlier than planned.

The visitors threatened to take advantage of any immediate confusion in their opponents' ranks following the substitutions when Abel had a shot deflected wide and Tanner headed the resulting corner over the crossbar. Rams' controversial manager, Jim Ward, added to the home fans' agitation with his touchline antics that saw him frequently venturing outside of his zone to remonstrate with the referee but it was difficult to know who the supporters saw as the main villain of the night with Mr Mackrell looking like the proverbial fish out of water with an inept display that is sure to have left the attending referee's assessors unimpressed. Neither side looked to have benefited from the official's decisions after fouls, handballs and verbal provocation received the minimum of punishment that did nothing to quell the undercurrent of ill feeling that proliferated throughout the opening hour of the match.

Gary Charman promised a brief moment of skill from a hitherto forgettable half when he showed good control and awareness to beat his marker and cut inside on to his right foot but his shot went too high and too wide to worry Paul Wilkerson in the Rams' goal. Minshull tried to do it all by himself when a purposeful run through the middle took him in to the Horsham penalty area where only a timely intervention from Howard prevented the number nine from getting in a strike on goal. Ten minutes from the break a neat flick from Austin put Farrell in the clear but his deft touch sent the ball narrowly past the far post via the outside of the striker's boot. The move brought generous applause from the home fans who were delighted to see some decent football at last.

The latest flashpoint occurred when Geard's attempt to shield the ball saw him flattened by Abel and the ensuing scuffle saw players from both sides become involved before the main protagonists were cautioned. It wasn't long before Jacob Mingle's name entered Mackrell's notebook when a blatant handball by Ball was ignored and the Horsham midfielder ploughed in to the back of his man. With first half injury time upon us, Ball harried Graves in to an overhit backpass that left Paul Seuke stranded and 380 or so home fans shared Seuke and Graves' relief as the ball shaved the upright and ran behind for a corner. The ball was cleared to the shrill tone of the referee's whistle but the drama didn't stop there. Hill kicked out at Farrell and the Rams' captain appeared to aim a head butt at the former Lewes man as the two players locked foreheads in a display of machismo and, in the moments that followed the inevitable group confrontation, Hill was shown the red card and trooped off the pitch to suffer the gauntlet of the home fans.

H/T Horsham 0 Ramsgate 0

The match appeared to be Horsham's for the taking but the absence of the attack-minded Brake and Carney had limited their efforts on goal and their followers were united in their thoughts that a goal for the visitors would mean the almost certain loss of at least two, if not three, points for their side. Disaster struck, then, just three minutes after the interval when Ball chased a long pass and was sent tumbling by Howard's clumsy challenge. Penalty to Ramsgate and up stepped Minshull to coolly convert and Ramsgate looked on course for only their third away league win of the season.

A free-kick from Fenelon was poorly executed and Lewis Taylor's shot went woefully high of the target from 35 yards allowing the Rams to begin their time wasting tactics early. The next instalment of this dramatic night, that had so far delivered more misery than an episode of Eastenders for the home fans, saw Geard's unnecessary tackle on Minshull rewarded with a second yellow to reduce both teams to ten men. Geard's night had lasted precisely 39 minutes....many more than some fans had predicted for the volatile midfielder. Intriguingly, this seemed to galvanise the home side who almost drew level when Austin's snapshot brought a stunning save from Wilkerson who tipped the shot on to the bar and behind for a corner.

The equalising goal came just five minutes after Geard's exit and owed everything to the strength and perseverance of Chamal Fenelon, Horsham's on loan striker. Taylor and Mingle took turns in eyeing up an opening in the middle of the Rams half when the latter picked out Fenelon on the edge of the box. Good control, a neat roll off the underside of his boot, and the Havant & Waterlooville man had conjured up some space to hit a low shot past the static 'keeper to claim his second goal in successive games and his 5th in Horsham colours. 'The Beast' then had a chance to make it two when a patient build up ended with Taylor picking out his team-mate but, having beaten Tanner's lunge, Fenelon pulled his shot horribly wide of goal.

Horsham now appeared to have the bit between their teeth and, when Wilkerson's goal-kick was returned by Taylor, Farrell's flick sent Fenelon charging clear but his header, although beating the onrushing goalkeeper, was dealt with by Ben Laslett - one of three covering defenders. Ramsgate made a few forays of their own in to the Horsham half, winning a number of corners and free-kicks, but with the lanky Ball curiously deployed as deadball expert, they lacked any aerial threat and Seuke's goal survived relatively unscathed. 

Farrell's speed of thought almost grabbed a second for the hosts when Ramsgate failed to clear Taylor's free-kick and Laslett's misplaced header fell for Farrell who struck the ball first time into the side netting. A cross from Dan Dolton flashed across the face of Seuke's goal to remind the Hornets of the visitor's threat at the other end and Charman had a loud shout for a penalty turned down when Lewis Dark appeared to handle inside the penalty area. Charman's aim was just too high from another spectacular 30 yarder but, although the Hornets enjoyed the greater possession, they were guilty of holding on to the ball too long and were easily dispossessed to break up a number of promising attacks.

Charman looked Horsham's 'man most likely' and a fine interception allowed him to race goalwards before delivering an inviting pass to Mingle but the midfielder couldn't convert, sidefooting over from the edge of the box with three minutes of the ninety remaining. Stuart King, on for concussed substitute Stuart Vahid, made space inside the Horsham penalty area to twist and turn but could only send his shot in to the car park as both sides looked for a late winner. Taylor sent a drive wide of Wilkerson's right hand post but Horsham survived a massive scare in injury time when Dolton got free down the left and crossed into the goalmouth. With the ball allowed to run across the face of goal, King and Ball were both denied by Seuke's bravery as he dived low to repel the shot before Mingle could bring the ball away to safety.

There was still chance for just one final effort and it was, arguably, the best opening of the game. It fell the way of the visitors for whom Tanner broke up a Horsham attack before exchanging passes with Ball and galloping away down the right to send in a first time cross that Ball, unmarked 15 yards from goal, volleyed over the top.

There was no repeat of the shenanigans that accompanied the half time whistle as Mr Mackrell signalled the end of the game and there were, as there should be, handshakes aplenty as the players left the arena. One can only wonder what lies in store in the rematch on April 12th.

NEXT MATCH: v Leyton (h) Saturday 2nd February ko 3.00pm