By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Photos and video John Emmins
Chichester City 2 Ramsgate 4
Josh Clack (35, 53 pen) Joe Turner (30)
Joe Taylor (38 pen, 44 pen, 58)
High flying Ramsgate kick off playing left to right from the main stand on a bright sunny day at the Oaklands Park ground, as they visit fourth placed Chichester City. With both teams guaranteed a play-off place but Ramsgate looking to put pressure on their title chasing rivals Cray Valley PM.
From the off Rams look really keen and are playing with a back three and two wing backs. As Rams look to win the midfield and control the game, Tijan Jadama intercepts a ball and gets it forward quickly to Joe Turner, centre of the goal mouth just inside the box, but he’s quickly closed down by Rob Huchings.
Rams seem to be winning all second ball, with a very high press the midfield overload is certainly getting the desired results as they continue to pressurize City. Hutchings is having a very good game as he blocks efforts from Jadama and Turner again.
It all seems one-way as Rams spray the ball down the right wing for Benni Bioletti to chase, he gets there but as he tries to cross Connor Cody gets to him to block and ricochet back off Bioletti for a goal kick.
Just sixteen in, Jordan Green receives a pass to feet, he battles in the area, gets a shot away, again blocked this time by Joe Moore as City hang on.
City forced into early sub as Emmett Dunn falls awkwardly and damages his wrist being replaced in the nineteenth by Ethan Prichard.
Rams continue down both flanks with Taylor linking play, bringing Alfie Paxman in down the left wing, cross into the area comes to Bioletti to strike another body in the way blocked again.
Green playing in behind Taylor as Rams break quickly with Green on the right, his shot fires across the goal missing the back post by a fraction with keeper Kieran Magee rooted to the spot.
To say this game has been one-sided would be a little unfair but City have shown nothing thus far going forward.
Approaching the half hour Rams mount a lovely attack, moving the ball across the field and back again as they probe the City defence. Turner strikes a cracking shot, the ball in the back of net in a flash but alas the linesman’s flag is raised for offside.
Thirty first, here come the Rams again, ball in from the left and at the near post Turner is quickest to react and poke the ball home to give Rams a well-deserved lead.
Rams immediately on the attack again,, Jadama takes the ball down to the by line, crosses back for Taylor to tap, but again the linesman flags for offside, I don’t think anyone in the ground could understand this decision.
Thirty fifth, City have a throw-in deep in the Rams half, quickly taken and a first time cross toward goal and a good glancing header from Josh Clack sees the ball in the back of the Rams net to level.
From the kick off the ball is played out to Bioletti, he plays a slide rule pass for Jadama to run onto, he’s about to shoot and is taken from behind, for a Rams penalty. Up steps Taylor to power home the penalty to restore Rams lead.
Forty first, a super pass from Green for Jadama, he goes through the defensive line and clashes with Cody, claims for another penalty are turned down and a corner awarded. There have certainly been some decisions to discuss.
Rams through again, this time Turner centre of goal has his shot saved well by Magee, as Rams continue the attacks. Green goes through and is dragged back in the area, this time the referee does award a penalty kick. Now in the forty fourth as Taylor steps up and smashes the ball down the middle for his second and Rams third on the stroke of half time.
As the second half gets underway can Rams keep up the pace from the first half? Takes a while to settle down before Rams start moving the ball again at pace, switching play from right to left, Taylor laying a ball off for Alfie Paxman, his run blocked by Issac Bello.
Fifty first, a rare City attack sees a shot fired straight at Craig Stone from close range, he goes with a shoulder to block the ball but the referee sees it as handball and awards City a penalty. Clack steps and casually slots the penalty home.
Fifty seventh, Turner collects the ball just in the City half out wide left,, he goes on a run down the wing beating the midfield, his run continues, he then out paces the full back taking the ball inside the area, he looks up and sees Taylor running in, he weights a perfect pass for Taylor who confidently side foots home for his fifth hattrick of the season and his fifty second goal, equalling Rams all time record.
Just past the hour Rams with their tails up are showing just how good they can be when they play at pace, Taylor and Turner linking up, all the tricks and flicks are coming off with Bioletti causing all sorts of problems on the right.
Rams make a change sixty seventh as Green makes way for Medy Elito, strengthening the midfield. I don’t see Rams letting up, they really are firing on all cylinders especially in attack.
Elito into the action straight away, as the Rams are queuing up to shoot with six Rams in the City penalty area, it’s like a turkey shoot, as shots rain in all being blocked and fired straight back.
Seventy sixth, City finally have an attack down the right wing, the ball crossed right through the Rams area but no one can get the touch it needs.
Seventy eighth, Rams sub Bioletti after tireless work on the wing is replaced by Jack Paxman a more defensive player as Rams look to consolidate their lead.
Rams have several attacks stopped for offsides as the linesman sticks his flag up.
Eighty second, a comedy moment as Taylor is through un-marked, having beaten the offside he’s one on one with the keeper, he fakes to shoot trying to get Magee to go down but he stays big, Taylor tries an audacious lob but miss hits it allowing Magee to collect one handed.
Eighty fourth, Rams give away a needless freekick wide left level with the area, they do not want to concede now, the ball lifted into the area, Tom Hadler alert to it comes and claims in the air and drops to the floor.
Eighty fifth, Rams another glorious move, as Elito plays a ball inside the defender for Alfie Paxman who cuts it back for Jadama to shoot, yet another defensive block and a Rams corner, this is cleared with a long punt up field, headed on by the giant Jimmy Wild for Mo Jammeh who’s run is stopped by Alex Brevo, giving City a freekick in a dangerous central position. Clack steps up and wastes the opportunity smashing the ball high and wide.
Rams stay top of the league on goal difference; however Cray Valley PM do have a game in hand with final games to be played on Saturday 27th April.
Attendance: 556
RFSA player of the match: Joe Turner
The teams:
CITY: 1Kieran Magee, 2Emmett Dunn, 3Rob Hutchings, 4Joe Moore , 5Ryan Davidson, 6Connor Cody, 7Josh Clack, 8Joe Clarke , 9Jimmy Wild, 10Mo Jammeh , 11Isaac Bello
Subs: 14Oliver Munt, 15Ethan Prichard, 16Ben Pashley, 17Lloyd Rowlatt, 18Kaleem Haitham
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 4Alex Brefo , 5Craig Stone , 7Benny Bioletti, 9Joe Taylor, 10Jordan Green, 11Alfie Paxman, 12Matthew Attenborough-Warren, 15Lee Martin, 19Joe Turner, 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 3Jack Parter, 8Jack A Paxman, 13Archie Simmons, 14Medy Elito, 18Sinnkaye Christie
Ramsgate next in action
27 April H Three Bridges Isthmian South East 3pm
Leave a Reply