By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Margate FC (2) 3 Ramsgate FC (0) 1
27 Greenhalgh 83 Jadama
43 Kasim
47 Smith
A late kick off at a dusky, chilly and breezy Hartsdown Park due to crowd congestion entering the ground. Finally at 8pm we were underway, the floodlights not really kicking in as the large crowd were expectant of a classic derby match.
Margate got us underway attacking the Tivoli Road end, the teams settled into their formations both sides looking as if playing 4 – 4 – 2.
A quick start for the Rams attacking down the right as Osinfolarin earned the first corner of the game, McIntyre took the shot, putting the ball right on keeper Jinadu who took it comfortably in the air.
9th minute Rowland jumped in with arm raised collided with Christie’s head, referee clearly saw this as intentional and showed Rowland a red card, reducing Rams to ten men for the remaining 80 plus minutes.
Rams seemed undaunted by the sending off. with a good midfield battle with Jadama & Paxman going up against Blackman & Wood. 13th saw Rams again down the right winning their second corner of the game. McIntyre tried the same thing, this time Jinadu dropped it but Margate had defenders in position to clear.
After a lot of midfield play Margate got the first shot of the game as Wood blasted over from range, quarter of an hour in and still neither keeper had been troubled.
24th and Margate won their first corner after a good move down the right as Smith & Wood create a clever little flick insid,e giving them the opportunity to shoot. It is blocked by McIntyre for the Rams. Margate then had their best spell of the game pushing Rams deeper & deeper, gaining their second corner – a short one taken to Greenhalgh who tried a cross which had enough on it to go over Bexon in the Rams goal and finish in the back of the net to give the home-side the lead on 27th min.
35th and Margate on the attack again, getting their third corner swung into the are,a Bexon not looking comfortable punched it away. The ball picked up by Jadama who went on a run but his end pass not being collected, out wide.
From the throw Margate quickly moved the ball forward to Greenhalgh as he went through Fitchett making a brilliant tackle to thwart the run otherwise he would have been through.
More great work from Jadama in midfield as he beat three and passed out to the left wing Rams to earn another corner. Some stout defending at the back for Margate as Rams had three corners in a row before putting the ball out for a goal kick.
42nd and an error at the back as Fitchett missed the opportunity to clear the ball and gets squared to Kasim whose run has not been spotted by the Rams. He rifles the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Bexon’s goal, to give Margate a 2 – 0 lead at half time.
Margate came out fired up at the start of the second attacking the Hartsdown Road end where their fans were congregated. The 47th and a quick sweeping move starting from midfield quickly out to the wing, a cheeky but perfect back heel to Barton and a perfect cross and a sublime first time half volley from Smith giving Bexon no chance. Margate 3 – 0.
53rd and Rams best chance of the half as Liburd made a nuisance of himself, getting a powerful shot away, deflected out for a corner as Rams tried to get back into the game. They were not really being outplayed, it was more the clinical finishing from Margate making the difference.
55th and Rams made changes with Carvalho & Miller replacing Liburd & Riley-Snow giving the team a more attacking line-up. It certainly seemed to have made a difference as Rams attacked down the left, ball from Jadama to Carvalho beating the defender, crossed in behind the Rams attackers.
Rams were using the left side more as Carvalho & Carlse linked up with another great ball into the Margate box. This time a diving Jinadu intercepted the cross on the floor. Rams took more control as Margate eased off with their three goal lead.
62nd and Margate changed Cole replacing with Blackman to bolster the midfield as Jadama & Paxman had been bossing it for a good 10 minutes.
66th and Smith linked with Greenhalgh, Smith went through and shot, forcing a save from Bexon. Margate had a couple of chances, a corner floated across deep Rams, cleared but making hard work of it and gifting the ball back to Margate to try and build again .
68th Rams final throw of the dice as Aboagye replaced Osinfolarin.
Rams had a few half opportunities through Miller & Jadama as they desperately tried for at least a consolation goal. Margate hitting on the break, a ball over the top from midfield for Wood to run onto, Bexon quickly off his line seeing the danger just making it to the ball first to clear.
Margate replacements with Oke for Ojemen in the 79th
83rd and Fittchett kept the ball alive right by the left touchline level with the penalty area, ball goes to Paxman for a perfect cross and Jadama runs in to head home for the Rams, setting up a grandstand finish they hope.
Margate replacement Sutcliffe for Wood 84th.
Rams tried to throw everything at Margate for the remaining few minutes, 90+1 Aboagye crossed from wide right into the box, Miller at full pace unable to keep his shot down as it ballooned over the bar from six yards. No last gasp Rams finish on this occasion as Margate’s defence held out for the remaining minutes.
The Teams:
Margate: 1Daniel Jinadu, 2Harrison Hatfull, 4Yaser Kasim, 5Sinn’Kaye Christie, 6Harry Hudson, 8Sam Blackman, 9Harvey Smith, 10Nathan Wood, 11Ben Greenhalgh, 12Freddy Barton, 14Peter Ojemen
Subs: 7Ade Cole, 15Emmanuel Oke, 16Rory Sutcliffe, 17Kenzie Parkinson, 18Henry Young
Ramsgate: 1Josh Bexon, 5Callum Emptage, 7Blaise Riley-Snow, 8Theo Osinfolarin, 9Kane Rowland, 12Jack Paxman, 14Rowan Liburd, 15Thomas Carlse, 17Ben Fitchett, 19Jake McIntyre 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 2Jerald Aboagye, 3Jack Robbens, 10Ashley Miller, 11Gil Carvalho, 18Manny Cutress
Attendance: 1481
RFSA player of the match: Tijan Jadama
Margate player of the match: Ben Greenhalgh
Entertainment: 4*
Ramsgate next in action:
22April Away Ashford United 3pm
Then the league playoffs: 25 & 28th fixtures to be decided.
