Pitchside: Liburd second hat trick in as many games seals ‘ugly’ Rams victory

Corinthian V Rams

By pitchside reporter Andy Mason

Corinthian  2                      Ramsgate 3

34 Salim Futa                      9,16,90 Liburd

90+2 Housego (P)

A warm sunny day at Gay Dawn Farm, with light showers, the grass pitch looking in fairly good condition. There is a steep slope on the pitch running about 4 feet from top to bottom down the length.

Rams start brightly forcing the Hoops onto the back foot by controlling play mostly in their half, our hosts do break out 7th minute as a quick ball played forward and Godrey outpaces Rams defence but the first shot of the game is well wide of Bexon’s goal. Rams will have to be wary as the Hoops can break quickly especially as they are playing down the slope in this half.

9th min Rams find Miller out wide left, he outpaces the defender and crosses perfectly for Liburd to stoop and head home Rams opener, this should settle the Rams. They start to move the ball from one side to the other as they try to break the Hoops down.

15th Rams attack again this time the ball knocked out for a corner, Miller from the left puts in the perfect corner right under the crossbar. Keeper Boakye Sarfo can only parry the ball up In the air, Liburd waits for the ball to drop and heads home Rams & his second.

Rams still pressing but keep giving the ball away, their passing seems to have gone array, although Prescott collects a loose ball and fires into Liburd in the box. He twists and turns the defender before getting a shot away, saved the Boakye Sarfo’s outstretched leg.

The game is very messy as Rams just keep losing the ball with either poor choice of pass or just booting it forward, they seem to have relaxed too much allowing the Hoops to play their own game.

Hoops attack as Berwick is put through his shot deflects just wide giving Hoops a corner, the defence holds firm to clear.

30th Carvalho down the left for the Rams plays a great ball into the box for Miller to run onto, he’s fractionally beaten to it by Davey stopping what would have been a well worked Rams move.

Hoops really do not look that much of a threat as Rams give a throw in down near the corner flag on the left, 34th the long throw comes over and the ball is headed around before dropping for a perfect volley from Salim Futa across Bexon and crashing into the side of the Rams goal to pull one back.

Rams are really making hard work of this game and really do need to get in at half time without conceding another goal, they must stop gifting the ball to the Hoops it seems almost every time Rams touch the ball it finishes with the opposition.

Just before half time Rams have a throw deep in the Hoops half. Paxman goes for a long throw right into the penalty area, the near post head on though is cleared, hardly any time added as we go in at half time with Rams holding a slender one goal advantage.

Rams under way in the second half this time with the slope, they seem to be encamped in the Hoops half again. The team talk must have worked. Rams using the Paxman long throw to good effect but not creating any goal scoring opportunities.

The game still very messy as Hoops push forward, a shot comes skimming off a beaten Bexon’s bar and cleared up field well down field.  62nd Liburd rounds the keeper, is this the opportunity he’s been waiting for? He shoots but Billings recovers to clear for the Hoops.

Rams subs 67th Prescott & Carvalho off for Olopade & Bamba, this does not seem to have changed how badly Rams are playin,g still gifting the ball away as they struggle to break down the Hoops.

71st Hoops sub as Bewick comes off & Daniel comes on & 77th Rams Miller off Rowland on.

There’s absolutely no rhythm to the game at all, 79th a Bamba freekick smashed into the wall.

Rams seem to want to give this game away, the defence playing around at the back gift the ball to Box right in front of Bexon. His shot luckily for Rams is powderpuff and straight at Bexon.

We enter the dying embers of what can only be described as an ugly match and a poor Rams performance other than the first 20 minutes,

The 88th Rams give away a late corner, supporters dreading this as the defence have struggled with late set pieces, Hoops put the ball into the mix and luckily the header goes wide.

Rams get the ball up to Jadama in midfield, he turns and Daniel goes flying in, stamping on Jadama leaving him prostrate on the deck. Ref shows Daniel red having only been on the pitch 20 mins. Jadama is down for some five minutes receiving treatment, eventually getting to his feet, for some reason the ref orders him off the pitch while Rams take the freekick. Jadama comes back on looking like he means business, collects the ball, breaks through two defenders passes perfectly to Liburd who slots home his & Rams third.

Hoops from the kick off are on the attack down the right the ball into the box Bexon calls for it seems to dive over the ball and clatters a Hoops attacker to the floor, Hoops penalty 90+2 up steps Housego looks very confident and smacks a firmly hit penalty straight down the middle.

Rams hold out for what seems an eternity of added time 9 minutes in total.

Rams stay top four points ahead of nearest rivals with six games remaining.

The Teams:

Corinthian FC: 1Claudio Boakye Sarfo, 2Jack Unwin, 3Ahmed Salim Futa, 4Harry Sargent, 5James Billings, 6Sam Fitzgerald, 7Jack Godfrey, 8Brandon Davey, 9Oliver Box, 10Oscar Housego, 11Sam Bewick

Subs: 12Jack Billings, 14Isaiah Daniel , 15Josh Leach, 16Harry Lashley, 17Josh James

Ramsgate: 1Josh Bexon, 2Jerald Aboagye, 4Jamie Coyle, 8Lee Prescott , 10Ashley Miller, 11Gil Carvalho, 12Jack Paxman, 14Rowan Liburd, 16Taofiq Olomowewe, 19Jake McIntyre, 20Tijan Jadama

Subs: 6Denzelle Olopade, 9Kane Rowland, 5Thomas Carlse, 17Ben Fitchett, 18Youssouf Bamba

Attendance: 172

RFSA player of the match: Rowan Liburd

Entertainment 3*

 Ramsgate next in action

25March Home Haywards Heath 3pm

01April Away Chichester City 3pm

08April Home Beckenham Town 3pm