By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 4 Erith & Belvedere 1
Joe Taylor (14) Marcel Barrington (41)
Tijan Jadama (21)
Alfie Paxman (27)
Joe Elull (65)
An awful evening greets the sides as they take to the WW Martin Community Stadium amid strong wind and pouring rain, the plus factor is that the 3G will make the passing game slicker as the ball skids across the surface much faster.
Rams start brightly, no hang ups after their FA cup exploits at the weekend, a through ball to Jordan Green he manages to round the goalkeeper Jordan Perrin, his shot gets blocked on the goal line and out for a corner. The ball comes out to Lee Martin whose powerful strike is also blocked, Rams showing their intent from the off.
Rams press on with Green down the right wing causing all sorts of issues with his electrifying pace as Rams move the ball quickly playing through Erith with ease.
Erith not without opportunities however as we see forward Marcel Barrington bearing down on goal but he has his shot fantastically blocked by Sinnkaye Christie.
Lee Martin is bossing the midfield battle for the Rams as they press again after he wins the ball, releases Joe Taylor who fires from all of thirty yards- there’s nothing Perrin can do to stop it from flying into the net to give Rams a deserved lead after fourteen minutes.
The Rams are certainly on fire again as Marin wins another crunching challenge. This time the ball played out wide taken to the byline crossed to the back post where Tijan Jadama waits to slot home Rams second in the twenty first minute.
The match seemingly very one sided as Rams win a free kick to the left of the penalty area Martin & Alfie Paxman over the ball, Paxman strikes bypassing the wall and curling into the Erith net with Perrin nowhere to be seen for Rams third with only twenty seven minutes played.
Rams continue in the same vein, approaching half time however they all seem to switch off relaxing before the break and allow Erith to build up a head of steam and in the forty-first a slotted through ball finds Barrington on his own. He cooly passes the ball into the net giving Tom Hadler no chance, pulling one back.
Second half the wind direction seems to have turned albeit swirling around and the rain still falling, the tractor had been out during the break to disperse any laying water.
Rams carry on pressing, Martin having a shot from range flying off the surface, Perrin down to save but he cannot hold the ball, Erith captain Rob Strachan to his rescue to clear.
Rams make a sub fifty-first as Jordan Green’s evening is done, replaced by Benny Bioletti, one pace man for the other on the right. Benny immediately gets into the action making runs and crossing in.
The conditions now playing a part as both sides shoot from range with the slippery surface & ball making life difficult for both keepers.
Rams Bioletti not giving up a lost cause earning a corner sixty-fifth, crossed in by Alfie Paxman not dealt with by Erith defence as the ball goes up in the air. Paxman following in crosses the ball for Joe Elull to rise and head home, a deserved Rams fourth.
Another Rams sub as Freddie Oliver replaces Medy Elito in the midfield giving Rams a more defensive setup.
A long ball forward from the Rams as Perrin and his defender go for the ball, somehow the keeper loses control and the ball slips through. Taylor cannot believe his luck as he collects it, shoots towards the open goal but manages to hit the post to the disbelief of the gathered fans.
Erith have one last foray forward with Barrington firing just over Hadler’s crossbar.
Rams forced to make a late sub as Jack Parter is withdrawn for Wes Hennessey to get a few more minutes of first team action.
Rams deserved the victory and are continuing to entertain; the crowds are certainly growing with 410 fans on what could only be described as an awful night.
Attendance: 410
RFSA player of the match: Joe Elull
The Teams:
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 3Jack Parter, 4Joe Ellul, 14Medy Elito, 11Alfie Paxman, 18Sinnkaye Christie, 8Jack Paxman, 9Joe Taylor, 10Jordan Green, 15Lee Martin, 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 7Benny Bioletti, 12Louie Procopi, 16Wes Hennessey, 17Mike West, 19Freddie Oliver
ERITH: 1Jordan Perrin, 19Aaron Clarke, 4Jamie Coyle, 5Rob Strachan , 6Denzell Olopade, 8Kian Garlinge , 10Jedidiah Brown, 11James Taylor, 14Josh Ajayi, 3Ross Craig , 9Marcel Barrington
Subs: 16Cameron Andrews, 17Lee Lewis, 12Sahid Nallo, 18Chris Dickson, 20Billy Crook
Ramsgate next in action:
21Oct Away – Broadbridge Heath 3pm
25Oct Home – Horndean 7:45pm
28Oct Away – Hythe Town FA Trophy 3pm
04Nov Home – Woking FA cup 1st round (tickets available online)
