By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 1 Cray Wanderers 0
Joe Taylor (18)
An FA cup second qualifying round replay at the WW Martin Community stadium, as the rain continues to fall and seems heavier as we approach kick off, Rams with a couple of changes form the first outing on Sunday.
Underway with Rams attacking the airport end, the early play very cagey with neither side having any chances, eighth minute Cray press and gain the first corner which Rams defend well.
Rams take control from then with a Dan Johnson header going just over, followed up twelfth Rams freekick out wide right as Green is brought down, played in by Lee Martin to Joe Ellul again just over the bar.
Fourteenth Cray foray forward with Anthony Cook firing in goalward forcing Tom Hadler into a great low save to his right, again Cray have an opportunity this time cut out by Ellul saving Rams at the back.
Rams back on the attack as Jordan Green attacks down the Rams right and keeps the ball in play and puts it back to Taylor who just takes a touch before smashing home to the keepers near post to give Rams a deserved lead on the run of play.
Twenty sixth Rams push on as Tijan Jadam rounds the keeper to see his effort cleared from the line, it really is Rams at present as Lee Martin picks up a loose ball shoots but straight at Rowley for an easy save.
Rams still making a few silly mistakes losing the ball but overall they are looking he better of the two sides. Thirty sixth Jadama breaks through and brought down cynically by Clunis resulting in two yellow cards one for Clunis & one for Martin for remonstrating.
Rams continue the press with Jadama shooting just wide, Has we approach the half time Rams making a sub Wes Hennessy for Jordan Green, Cray have a freekick out wide on the left struck in hard and headed out by Taylor back defending to keep Rams advantage at the break.
Slow start to the second half we wait until fifty sixth minute for the first shot of the half as Alfie Paxman fires in a low effort easily collected by Rowley.
Cray really in the ascendancy as we approach the hour mark as they get desperate to get back into the match making a couple of substitutes to freshen their attack.
Sixth nineth it’s Rams against the run of play as Hennessey goes down the right beats the defender tries to cross back to Taylor the ball comes off Jack Holland and into his own net to give Rams a two-goal advantage.
Cray are desperate to get back in the match and with renewed vigor go on the attack down the Rams left a deep cross toward the back post by passing the Rams defence and Sam Wood ghosts in o have a free header to put Cray back in the game with fourteen minutes left of normal time.
Cray now with their tails up and it’s Rams urn to try and hang on. They are struggling to get the ball forward and a mistake in midfield an under hit back pass allows Cameron Thompson to pounce he goes through Hadler comes to meet him bringing him down in the area a penalty kick for Cray, Hadler makes amends saves the penalty but only finds Nyren Clunis who had reacted fastest to slot in an equaliser seventy ninth minute.
Rams sub Freddie Oliver for Lee Martin eighty first. A frantic finish as both sides create chances the best of which falling to Cray’s Jack Holland from the edge of the box forcing an amazing low save from Hadler. The full time whistle goes to end a second enthralling encounter between these two sides.
As we move into extra time both teams are permitted an extra sub, Rams start at high speed just thirty secs of extra time, Jack Parter sends a ball forward to Alfie Paxman looks up sees Jadam making a run down the middle, a perfectly weighted cross ball Jadama hits it top left corner Rams back in front.
Rams forced into another sub as Joe Elull’s evening is done Sinnkaye Christie into the fray a straight swap at the back. The play now is just end to end with balls being played through a tiring midfield on both sides.
Rams final sub as Mike West is replaced by Bode Anidugbe to strengthen the midfield.
Rams best chance coming as Jadama goes down the right cuts an aerial ball back to Paxman who’s header goes just wide. Rams have three further chances to put the game to bed but as the first half of et ends it’s Rams with a slender lead.
The second period of et is much the same format with end to end football both sides creating opportunities and some good defending and some luck. A Rams defensive mix up with two defenders leaving the ball for each other gifts a golden opportunity to Cray Hadler forced into a superb save to keep Rams ahead.
A quick Rams break in the twenty first added minute as Jadama is almost through gest a shove in the back from Cameron Black who is carded with a second yellow and has to leave the field. Rams hold out against the ten men to take a memorable victory over their higher league opposition.
A wonderful display of football from both teams and an absolute credit to the Isthmian league if every game was as good as these two matches have been no one would bother with top flight football. Congratulations to them both.
The Teams:
Rams
1Tom Hadler, 3Jack Parter, 5Dan Johnson, 4Joe Ellul, 8Jack Paxman, 9Joe Taylor, 11Alfie Paxman, 17Mike West, 10Jordan Green, 15Lee Martin, 20Tijan Jadama
Subs:7Benni Bioletti, 6Bode Anidugbe, 18Sinnkaye Christie, 13Archie Simmons, 14Wes Hennessey 19Freddie Oliver, 12Louie Procopi
Cray
1Shaun Rowley, 17Lee Lewis, 5Cameron Black, 10Anthony Cook, 12William Wood, 4David Ijaha, 6Jack Holland, 11Nyren Clunis, 20Yahaya Bamba, 3Jamie Mascoll, 18George Porter
Subs: 2Archy Taylor, 13Thomas King, 14Cameron Thompson, 7Ellis Brown, 15Thomas Penfold, 16Sam Wood, 19Reggie Rye
Attendance: 357
RFSA player of the match: It is so split the whole team is the overall verdict no particular player can be singled out.
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