By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Cray Valley PM 2 Ramsgate 0
52 Tumkaya
59 Williams
A chilly wet and windy day at the aptly named Artic stadium in South East London, the floodlights on from the kick off as the skies above were dark.
Millers got us underway, playing up the slope on what looked like an excellent playing surface. From the start Millers were on the attack, winning a corner in the first minute. Rams had to switch on from the start and defend well.
The initial start saw the Millers setting out their game plan and that was one of quick movement and attack. In the 8th Millers won their second corner from another attack down their right.
Rams were struggling to get their game together, 10th minute and Aboagye down the right got a good cross in toward Ashley Miller but he was unable to capitalise on it. It was Rams best move thus far. It appeared to be a very open game.
Millers pressed again, winning their third corner within the first 15 minutes of the game. The Heavens opened and there was a real heavy downpour, play continued.
The 18th and Rams get a free kick about 30 yards out. The ball lobbed into the box, cleared and Millers immediately break. Ashley Miller has no other choice than to pull down the Millers attacker and got a yellow card although this certainly saves the Rams.
We were watching two evenly matched sides as Rams got their game together and created a couple of long range opportunities for McIntyre & Prescott, both forcing good saves for Lewington in the Millers goal.
The rain abated and Rams had a golden opportunity, Rowland from 6 yards missed but to save his blushes the linesman’s flag went up for offside. It showed that the Rams could break down this strong Millers side.
Millers were spurred on though, winning further corners The 36th and a great effort from Millers’ Coombes saw Bexon diving low to his left putting the ball out for yet another corner.
We went in honours even at the half time whistle with both keepers having made a couple of really good saves, but Millers must have felt they were on top.
Rams started us off with the game continuing in the same vein as Millers won yet another corner. The 52nd and the corner came in from the left, Tumkaya rose and headed Millers into the lead.
The Millers with their tails up were now pressing and stopping Rams from playing, winning most second ball.
The 58th and Millers gain another corner, coming in from the left, headed out but dropped perfectly for Williams to smash home Millers second. With Rams looking a little at 6s & 7s, they made a couple of substitutions with Bate & Osifolarin coming on for two defenders Howlett-Mundle & Aboagye.
The changes did not seem to have made a great deal of difference although Rams did win their first corner of the game in the 78th minute and just seconds later a free kick on the edge of the box, this was just hit into the Millers wall.
Rams seemed unable to break through the Millers midfield and when they did the defence did its job.
Full time saw Millers taking a well deserved 3 points. Rams remain top but the lead is cut to just 3 points.
The Teams:
Cray Valley PM: 1Chris Lewington, 3Thomas Chambers, 4Barney Williams, 6Ali Tumkaya, 7Denzel Gayle, 8Sonny Black, 10Adam Coombes, 15Kershaney Samuels, 16Mitchell Nelson,17Daniel Bennett, 20Ade Adeyemo
Subs: 2Connor Dymond, 12Vinnie Medhurst, 11Ayo Majekodunmi, 18Hassan Ibrahiym,19Julien Anau
Ramsgate: 1Josh Bexon, 2Jerald Aboagye, 3Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, 4Jamie Coyle,,8Lee Prescott, 9Kane Rowland, 10Ashley Miller , 11Nathan Wood, 17Ben Fitchett, 19Jake McIntyre, 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 5Callum Emptage, 7Lauric Diakiesse, 14Joshua Ajayi, 16Oliver Bate, 18Theo Osinfolarin
Attendance: 172
RFSA Ram of the Match: Jamie Coyle
Entertainment: 4*
Ramsgate next in Action:
10Jan Away Beckenham Town 745pm
14Jan Home Sittingbourne 3pm
21Jan Home Burgess Hill Town 3pm