Pitchside: Rams defeat to Sheppey

Rams v Sheppey Photo John Emmins

By pitchside reporter Andy Mason

Ramsgate 1     Sheppey United  2

Another Kent Derby as the visitors to the WW Martin community stadium are from an actual island with Sheppey United in town. Rams still unbeaten in the league after seven games and sitting proud at the top of the table were expecting another tough game- even though Sheppey have just one win this season.

We were all set on a bright day with a light cooling breeze coming across the ground, lovely if you were in the direct sunlight. We were underway with Rams kicking toward the airport end. Two minutes in and Sheppey opened up the Rams ball across the box cleared off the line by McIntyre. The 8th and Jadama breaks down the right, crosses to the back post with Paxman’s effort into the side netting. The  9th and the first shot on target from Miller straight at Prail. In the 17th a great chance for Hughes-Mfula for Sheppey forcing an outstanding save from Bexon low to his left.

Photo John Emmins

In the 21st a nice switch play moving the ball quickly as Paxman is delivered the ball out wide, crosses but there is no one on the end of the perfectly played cross. 28th Sains is allowed to run on the Rams goal and shoots fiercely just wide of Bexon’s post.

The 37th and Rams force a low save from Prail out for a corner. A very feisty derby game although the majority of the tackles have been fair. In the 43rd Rams attack as Paxman turns and plays the ball cleared for a corner, Rams continue the attack but are thwarted,. In the 45th Olopade suffers injury and is off for Ajayi coming back to the fold. Another injury as Sheppey Sains off for Eurotor.

Second half sub for Sheppey Birch for Tenyue as we got underway. Sheppey were immediately on the attack, ball out wide to Euruotor who struck the ball sweetly from the right with his left foot into the top back corner of the net 48th min. Calamitous as Rams bring their own downfall, Bexon calls for the ball and misses it, slotted across to Eurotor to slip it home for his andSheppey’s second in the 55th.

Rams were trying to recover but they looked out of sorts, chances were  going begging and they were just not playing, the performance belying their position at the top of the table, Sheppey  came with a game plan and executed it perfectly.

The 72nd and one of the Rams better moves as the ball is played to McIntyre to shoot from range but wide, there’s no creation in play, with Sheppey getting 10 behind the ball. Rams relied on hit and hope until Osinfolarin popped up in the box to pull one back for the Rams.

Rams push on for the elusive equaliser but they really did not deserve anything from this game as we entered added time of minimum five. Could Rams save themselves? The answer was no as Rams lose a league game for the first time this season but remain top.

The Teams:

The Rams:  1Josh Bexon, 4Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, 5Callum Emptage, 6Denzelle Olopade, 8Lee , Prescott, 10Ashley Miller, 12Jack Paxman, 17Ben Fitchett, 18Theo Osinfolarin, 19Jake McIntyre 20Tijan Jadama

Subs: 3Leon Redwood, 11Jack Richards, 14Joshua Ajayi, 15Tom Hanfrey, 16Sammi Takalobighashi

Sheppey: 1Aiden Prail, 2Daniel Birch, 4Olamilekan Majoyegbe, 5Ashley Sains, 7Danny Leonard, 9Warren-Hughes Mfula, 10Billy Bennett, 14Frankie Del Morgan, 15Matthew Parsons, 17Jack Midson 18Sam Gale

Subs: 3Renford Tenyue, 6Richard Hamill, 8Liam Gillies, 11Rodney Adamon Eruotor, 12Jacob Lamber

Attendance: 637

Ram of the match: Jahmal Howlett-Mundle

Entertainment: 3

Rams next in action:

11Oct Away v Beckenham Town Kent Senior Cup 7.45pm

15Oct Away v East Grinsted Town 3pm

19Oct Home v Faversham Town Velocity trophy 7.30pm