By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 2 Frome Town 1
Benni Bioletti (48) Warren Maidment (91)
Jack Parter (75)
A glorious day for football at the WW Martin Community stadium as Ramsgate welcome Frome Town for an Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round tie. Frome get us underway with Rams attacking the airport end.
A frantic start to the game with end to end play as you would expect in an FA cup tie, both sides creating opportunities. Both defences were having the better of the attackers with Joe Elull at the back for Ramsgate with some last ditch defending and vice versa at the other end with Matt Wood keeping Ramsgate at bay.
Neither side really settling at all as Frome close Rams down quickly every time they are on the ball, Frome have the first real effort on goal with a long-range pot shot from Jon Davies forcing Tom Hadler Rams keeper into action, then followed up eighth minute by a Frome attack down the right side with ball crossed over James Ollis has a shot from range saved again by Hadler.
The match being played at such a high pace it’s doubtful that either side will be able to keep this up for the full ninety minutes.
Ramsgate midfield are very busy and Tijan Jadama breaks through the Frome defence, keeps control as he beats a defender but shoots over the crossbar, the game is literally attack, attack from both sides with great defence as neither side want to give any ground.
Ramsgate have a couple of distant free kicks, Lee Martin takes them, hitting dipping shots but Kyle Phillips in the Frome goal is equal to them.
Thirty minutes in Rams create their best move of the game thus far as Jack Parter switches to the right hand side beats the defender to get to the byline and crosses for Joe Taylor. He tries a cheeky back heel but Phillips is equal to it to save, Frome immediately move the ball up the other end and Oowen Humphries effort sees Hadler scrambling back as the ball goes inches over the bar.
Thirty fifth Rams forced into a sub as Jadama picks up a knock and Benni Bioletti enters the fray and a formation change as Bioletti goes out wide and Medy Elito moves into a central midfield position.
As we enter time added in the first half Ramsgate’s Taylor is put through, Phillips comes out to meet him and saves with his legs with the ball falling to Parter but he blasts wide.
Overall Phillips has been the slightly busier of the keepers, with mainly long-range free kicks and pot shots, it’s so even however as Ollis up front for Frome has had a couple of golden opportunities. Honours even at half time.
As the second half begins Ramsgate appear to be playing further forward and open the scoring forty eighth minute with a cross from Alfie Paxman out wide right straight onto the head of Bennie Bioletti to power a header home past a despairing Phillips dive.
Ramsgate take control with their tails up, Bioletti causing Frome all sorts of problems as Ramsgate pile on the pressure, Frome limited to scraps at this point in the game, Bioletti is far to quick for the Frome defence and is tearing into their left back who must be feeling very tired by now chasing after a ghost.
The constant pressure tells at seventy fifth after some lovely football when Bioletti chases down a lost cause from a Rams overhit, a forward pass, he squares the ball across it’s quickly moved on for Jack Parter coming in from the left to strike home a thunderous shot for Rams second.
It’s getting a little twitchy as Frome have nothing to lose and are throwing everything forward. Elull at the back is a rock and seems to be everywhere, blocking and tackling to keep Frome at bay.
Ramsgate concede a late goal as they fail to clear for once at the back, allowing Warren Maidment to slot home at we enter time added. This set up a barnstorming finish as Frome are on the up and attacking non-stop for the remainder of the added time.
Ramsgate progress coming out on top in yet another treat for the fans in a fantastic no holds barred match.
Keep this entertainment going lads! Any fans of football that want to see a game played at its best get down to the WW Martin community stadium and watch the Rams…
Attendance: 720
RFSA player of the match: Joe Elull
Special guest
Lifelong Rams supporter Kevin Sanders was the guest RAM of honour for the much anticipated FA Cup home game vs Frome Town. Kev has this week had the all clear from cancer and to celebrate this amazing news he walked the Rams onto the pitch.
The teams:
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 3Jack Parter, 4Joe Ellul, 5Dan Johnson, 8Jack Paxman, 9Joe Taylor, 11Alfie Paxman, 14Medy Elito, 15Lee Martin, 17Mike West, 20Tijan Jadama,
Subs: 2Tristan Holden, 6Bode Anidugbe, 7Benni Bioletti, 10Wes Hennessey, 12Louie Procopi, 18Sinnkaye Christie, 19Freddie Oliver
FROME: 1Kyle Phillips, 2Owen Humphries, 5Pierce Mitchell, 6Matt Wood, 7Jon Davies, 8George Rigg, 10Zac Drew, 11Reece Rusher, 12Joe Budd, 14Warren Maidment, 18James Ollis
Subs: 4Sam Teale, 9Ben Griffith, 13Danny Greaves, 15Caleb Summerfield, 16Will Taylor, 19Sam Meaks, 20Thomas Duffin
Ramsgate next in action:
07 Oct Home v Sheppey United FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying 3pm
10 Oct Away v Sheppey United Isthmian League 7.45pm
14 Oct To be confirmed FA 4th Qualifying round
18 Oct Home v Erith & Belvedere Isthmian league 7.45pm