By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 2 Ashford United 4
Harvey Brand (32′ og) Vance Bola (27′)
Wes Hennessey (38′) Noah Carney (52′)
Anthony Edgar (75′)
Kymani Thomas (90′)
A pleasant evening at the WW Martin Community stadium as Ramsgate welcome old Kent rivals Ashford United for a second round tie in the League cup. With both sides putting out a mixture of senior & under twenty three’s.
Ramsgate are immediately setting out their stall and are on the attack from the off, rattling the post after just three minutes as Jack Paxman strikes after good work from Zack Jobe down the right crossing in. Shortly after Benni Bioletti powers down the right cuts inside fires just over Jakob Russell’s crossbar.
Ashford foray forward forcing a very good low save from Archie Simmons, Rams play the ball quickly up field Wes Hennessey having a powerful shot saved by Russell, it’s still very much Rams pressing and Ashford absorbing a constant flow.
Some really impressive work by Jobe as he comes in from the left and draws a penalty as the Ashford defence struggle with his guile. Hennessey seps up to take the penalty strikes it well bur Russell is down quickly to save.
It’s a very high paced game reflective of a under twenty threes match.
Twenty seventh minute after Ashford have got back in the game a little, a poor clearance from the back sees the ball fall at Vance Bola’s feet with an unguarded net he fires home to give Ashford the lead.
Rams with it all to do and they strike a fortunate goal in the thirty second as Bioletti lays a ball back from the byline it’s crossed into the box and Paxman rises to head goalward deflecting off Harvey Brand who was unable to get out of the way the scores are level.
Rams seem spurred on and are soon on the attack again with Bioletti crosses in Hennessey’s power strike saved by Russell out for a corner, the ball comes in low and hard Hennessey reacts quickly and finishes extremely well to restore Rams lead.
The second half gets under way with Rams substitute Tom Brisley on for Finley Bough & Ashford sub Tom Carlse on for Akrofi Alex.
A much slower start to this half after all the kick & rush of the first half, we wait until the fiftieth for the fist opportunity as Bioletti is put through from a long Ball by Joe Elull, Russell is quickly off his line to snuff out the attack.
Rams have an attack after Freddie Oliver wins a ball in midfield passes quickly to Jack Paxman who fires over.
Ashford are having a lot of the play now as Rams have become very sloppy on the ball, fifty second a long ball over the Rams defence sees Noah Carney rush through beating Simmons to the ball he loops the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net to level up the scores once again it’s all square.
Either side could take this now or we could finish up with a dreaded penalty shoot-out, sixty first a Rams freekick right edge of the box Medy Elito over it fires in Russell saves again, he’s certainly been busy tonight. Another loose kick out from Rams sees the ball fall again at Bola’s feet this time he shoots wide luckily for Simmons.
Rams still trying to build some excellent wing play by Brisley gaining another Rams corner but easily cleared.
Seventy second Rams sub as Zack Jobe is replaced by Jack Hawkins.
Ashford seem to be controlling play a lot more now with Noah having a great effort saved by Simmons, but Rams are un-done when Anthony Edgar collects a loose ball in the box he has time to turn and shoot putting Ashford in front for the first time in the game.
Rams subs as eightieth Leo Todd replaces Jack Paxman & eighty third Harry Sharman replaces Freddie Oliver.
Ashford are still pressing however and another long punt forward sees Elull having to back track quickly to clear for the Rams.
A late Rams free kick which goes horribly wrong one that they need to work on!
Ninety plus fourth with Rams pushing everyone forward & Simmons in the middle of the pitch a poor ball out from the back sees the ball come to Kymani Thomas he’s just in his own half take one look sees where Simmons is positioned so tries his luck, a wonderful strike sees Simmons back pedalling but he’s not in the frame as he ball lands in the Rams net. What away to finish a game goal of the season?
Teams:
RAMS: 13Archie Simmons, 4Joe Ellul, 7Benni Bioletti, 8Jack Paxman, 9Wes Hennessey, 20Finley Bough, 12Louie Procopi, 14Medy Elito, 15Zack Jobe, 18Sinnkaye Christie, 19Freddie Oliver
Subs: 6Leo Todd, 11Harry Sharman, 16Tom Brisley, 17Jack Hawkins, 10Alfie Paxman
ASHFORD: 1Jacob Russell, 2Lanre Azeez, 3Mason Saunders-Henry, 4Harvey Brand, 5Ben Gorham, 6Lewis Knight, 7Rhyle Ovenden, 8Anthony Edgar, 9Noah Carney, 10Akrofi Alex, 11Vance Bola
Subs: 12Tom Carlse, 13Connor Towens, 14Kymani Thomas, 15Joe Bayford, 16Oliver Macdonald
Attendance: 238
RFSA Player of the match: Benni Bioletti
Ramsgate next in action:
17Sep Sunday Away Cray Wanderers FA cup second qualifying round 3pm
23Sep Home Sevenoaks Town FA Trophy second qualifying round 3pm
27Sep Home Cray Valley PM Kent Cup 7.45pm
30Sep Home Horndean subject to change due to FA cup