By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 1 Beckenham Town 1
84 Jadama 19 Townsend
A chilly day at the WW Martin community stadium as table topping Ramsgate hosted playoff chasing Beckenham Town, the head to head all pointed towards a draw as both meetings this season have ended that way. Rams needed to bounce back after a couple of lacklustre performances and really needed to work out their tactics, with just 3 matches after this all promotion chasing sides.
Rams attacking the Town end in the first half, the early action was very tense with both sides showing nerves and not settling.
Rams started to settle quicker and were looking much better, certainly going forward, winning corners and free kicks in dangerous areas.
20th and Rams Miller lost possession in the Beckenham half. They broke quickly with a long ball forward out to the left wing, crossed in for Townsend to strike on the run giving Bexon no chance in the Rams goal.
Beckenham seemed keen on playing long with Theophanous a willing chaser, the ball dropping in behind the Rams high line, Olomowewe being given a good workout chasing back on numerous occasions breaking up the Beckenham forward play.
Rams were trying to play and were passing the ball well, only some good keeping from Blue saving Beckenham as Rams poured on the pressure in a vastly improved performance over the past few games.
Rams were lucky towards the end of the half as Bexon made a couple of great saves from Brand & then Theophanous as Beckenham roused just before half time to try and extend their advantage. But Rams with Olomowewe & Coyle held firm at the centre of defence . On balance Rams would have felt the more disappointed of the sides at half time not being at least level.
Second half Rams were still pushing, a well worked move saw Miller passing through to Liburd who got a powerful shot away forcing Blue into another great save. Rams certainly had the beating of the Becks defence as they pushed more and more.
It was pretty much oneway traffic with Rams passing, moving into space and crossing into the box, if Becks did not have Blue between the sticks Rams would have scored a hatful but the keeper was having one of those days.
Becks were still dangerous on the break and kept trying the long ball out, the Rams midfield were performing well as Jadama started to press further forward, creating more space in the midfield as Beckenham got more men back to try to hold onto the one goal lead. A dangerous thing to do, the way Rams were playing, Aboagye overlapping down the right and beating Johnson every time and crossing in for the forwards. It could only be a matter of time as the shots & headers rained in.
Jadama went through weaving his way toward goal firing in his pile driven shot beating Blue and crashing on the underside of the crossbar, bouncing down and cleared off the line.
Rams came again and again, another effort fired in and cleared off the line this time by Carter, how were Beckenham hanging on when the Rams onslaught was non-stop.
Beckenham tried to hit on the break, Theophanous from another long ball got through one on one with Bexon who stayed upright until the forward struck, saving with an outstretched foot, Becks only chance of the half thus far.
84th and Rams win yet another corner and this time substitute Bamba takes it from the right, perfectly delivered for Jadama to rise like a salmon to head home past a despairing Blue who was hoping for a clean sheet. Rams level and in control at this stage.
Rams continued to press but ran out of time and both sides had to settle for a point, as Chatham town go top of the table and they are next up for the Rams on Monday 10th they best be on top form if Rams can carry this momentum into the next game.
The Teams:
Ramsgate FC: 1Josh Bexon, 2Jerald Aboagye, 4Jamie Coyle, 6Denzelle Olopade, 10Ashley Miller, 11Gil Carvalho, 12Jack Paxman, 14Rowan Liburd, 15Thomas Carlse, 16Taofiq Olomowewe 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 5Callum Emptage, 7Blaise Riley-Snow, 9Kane Rowland, 17Ben Fitchett, 18Youssouf Bamba
Beckenham Town: 1Nick Blue, 2Harvey Brand, 3Archie Johnson, 4Nicholas Curran, 5Mudiaga Wanogho, 6Robert Carter, 7Freddie Nyhus, 8Danny Waldren, 9Louie Theophanous, 11Steven Townsend, 18Jamarie Brissett
Subs: 10Tunde Aderomnu, 12Gassimu Jalloh, 14Yahaya Kamara, 15George Goodwin, 17Alfie Bloomfield
Attendance: 1052
RFSA Player of the match: Tijan Jadama
Entertainment: 5*
Ramsgate next in action:
10April – away Chatham Town 3pm tickets online only at:-
http://www.chathamtownfc.com/latest-news/article/tickets-vs-ramsgate
15April – Home Whitehawk 3pm
18April – away Margate 745pm Kent senior cup semi final
22April – away Ashford Town 3pm