By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Chichester City 2 Ramsgate 2
30, 51p Pritchard 45 Olomowewe
89 Jadama
A setting sun across Oaklands Park, home of Chichester City, and then a bright moon shining as the temperature started to drop. Rams were looking to extend their unbeaten run under manager Jamie Coyle and get back to the top spot.
Rams got us underway attacking the City end with the Cathedral spire looming in the dusk, light was not great as the floodlights were not really taking effect. An early attack saw Rams gaining a corner Miller delivered a great ball in for Jadama to head, but it was pushed away by Magee in the City goal. Good early pressure from the Rams, Miller chasing hard but there was no end product, the first 10 mins belonged to Rams.
10th min good inter play down Rams left as Miller linked up with Carlse winning a couple of corners, Riley-Snow fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the box going just wide.
A lovely sweeping move from the Rams, starting inside their own half they moved the ball quickly & accurately, crossed over to the back post where Jadama headed back for Liburd whose shot was inches over.
City won their first corner coming from out of nothing as Aboagye under no pressure at all mistimed a clearance and gifted City a good attacking position. From the corner Rams broke out at pace with Carvalho, he got a shot away straight into the chest of Magee, Miller following up unable to get to the loose ball.
City were really coming back into the game as Rowlatt & Pritchard took control of the midfield, Pritchard hugging the right touchline all the time was an easy outlet for City and they were very quick. The 30th and a lovely move between the two of them resulting in a well worked goal as Rowlatt laid off the perfect ball for an unmarked Pritchard to go through one on one with Bexon and finish with aplomb.
Rams were really struggling to find any form at all, passes going astray or behind the attacker breaking up their own moves, they did not look like a table topping side, the midfield was either too high or too deep, allowing City to play their own game.
44th and a Paxman long throw into the box. Liburd won a corner from the throw in, Miller cleared at the near post. Rams maintained the attack and won another corner, Miller took it again, this time a little further away from Magee and deeper. Olomowewe rose, heading downward and levelled for the Rams on the stroke of half time.
Rams sub before the half started as Carvalho was replaced by McIntyre to change the Rams shape and give the wing backs in an attempt to block the midfield. The early play was all City as they held onto and passed the ball, something the Rams seemed to have forgotten how to do.
50th and a City attack saw Carlse too close in on the back of Pritchard. He went down in the box and the ref had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick, up stepped Pritchard and put Bexon the wrong way to restore City’s lead.
Rams were really under pressure and did not seem to have any ideas of how to prevent City moving the ball around. As another golden opportunity for City went begging with Pritchard slotting in Moore and forcing an excellent save from Bexon, the ball rebounded to Rowlatt but was blocked by McIntyre to keep Rams in the game.
Rams sub off Riley-Snow for Olopade to try and get a hold on the midfield, although Rams were still struggling to make any in roads. City seemed to have more time on the ball and were more accurate in their passing, with a willing runner in Pritchard who was sitting unmarked all the time.
69th and Rams last sub as Carlse was replaced by Bamba, Rams started to show a bit of urgency, Miller chasing down a lost cause and retrieving the ball. He played it back to Paxman, breaking through three City defenders and trying a curler going inches wide of Magee’s goal.
Rams attacked down the right, a Paxman cross onto the head of Jadama who flicks onto Liburd. He went up with Magee beating him to the ball as it heads toward goal almost in slow motion, Hyde gets back to head out from just under his own crossbar.
The 88th Rams at last show some spirit, attacking down the right, the ball cleared out just outside the box . As the ball dropped Coyle overhead kicked it back into the mix, headed over by Liburd to Jadama, the ball slightly behind him but he stretched his neck to power the ball home to level for the Rams.
Rams were in attack mode, all the action taking place at the City end. A 94th min chance as Miller went through, passing to Liburd with back to goal he swivelled round and shot in one move forcing a a good low save by Magee.
Jadama chased in on the ball and went down but the ref saw it in favour of City. Then right at the end a City back pass, Magee took his eye off the ball and it rolls fractions wide of his goal.
Full time 2 – 2, Rams have much room for improvement!
The Teams:
Chichester City: 1Kieran Magee, 2Isaac Bello, 3Rob Hutchings, 4Joe Moore, 5Lewis Hyde
6Ben Pashley, 7Josh Clack, 8Emmett Dunn, 9Joe Clarke, 10Lloyd Rowlatt, 11Ethan Prichard
Subs: 14Ollie Munt, 15Liam Montague, 16Alex Weinberger
Ramsgate: 1Josh Bexon, 2Jerald Aboagye, 4Jamie Coyle, 7Blaise Riley-Snow, 10Ashley Miller
11Gil Carvalho, 12Jack Paxman, 14Rowan Liburd, 15Thomas Carlse, 16Taofiq Olomowewe
20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 5Callum Emptage, 6Denzelle Olopade, 17Ben Fitchett, 18Youssouf Bamba, 19Jake McIntyre
Attendance: 155
RFSA Ram of the match: Josh Bexon
Entertainment: 3*