By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 3 Hythe Town 1
Jordan Green (36) Frannie Collin (49)
Joe Taylor (47,76)
A lovely autumnal evening at the WW Martin Community stadium, as Ramsgate host Hythe Town in the Isthmian League. Ramsgate looking to extend their winning streak and maintain their table topping position. Prior to kick off Ramsgate Manager Ben Smith receives the Isthmian manager of the month award for October.
We are underway with Rams attacking the airport end, a very even start as both teams sound each other out.
It’s not long before Hythe have the first attack with Jake Embery firing over Tom Hadler’s bar. A real midfield battle between two evenly matched sides.
Seventh minute Benny Bioletti challenges for a lost cause down the left wing winning the first corner of the game.
It’s been quite a feisty ten minutes, with some very strong but generally fair challenges going in from both sides.
Rams struggling to get a grip, however Jordan Green down the right flank is starting to make in roads, showing his pace and skills. Thirteenth, he cuts in from the wing beating Kai Grande and gets brought down on the edge of the box. Alfie Paxman has a try from the free kick firing just over the bar.
Twenty minutes in and little goal mouth action as the sides cancel each other out, with the midfield seeing most of the action. A couple of efforts from Bioletti and a cross to the back post being the highlights.
Thirty sixth, a great pass inside to Green, takes a touch to move the ball onto his favoured foot, strikes beating Steve Phillips dive in the Hythe goal to give Rams the lead. Hopefully this will open the game up as Hythe will need to attack now.
Hythe rather than going on the attack seem more intent in stopping Rams playing with Tijan Jadama being on the receiving end of most of the Hythe hustle & bustle.
As we enter the last five minutes Rams start to pass and move getting the ball out wide as Green causes more problems for Grande, with his pace forcing a good save from Phillips. We also see Joe Taylor and Jadama going close.
Rams starting the second half at pace and force a good early save from Phillips. Forty seventh, Green comes inside, beats two defenders before unleashing his shot, plenty of power on it and Phillip’s cannot hold it, the ball landing at the feet of Taylor, there’s only one place it’s going the back of the Hythe net for Rams second.
Hythe still not out of the match go forward. A lunging challenge give Hythe a free kick in a central position on the edge of the penalty area. Frannie Collin takes charge. The Rams wall seems a little to central, as Collin picks his spot and fires low and hard into the corner of Hadler’s goal pulling one back.
Hythe boosted by their goal start to push on in search of an equaliser. Even Taylor is forced back to help out at the back and makes an excellent clearance. Rams not settling after conceding and being forced on the defensive.
Rams have a couple of bright moments in what now is a very tense game. Green down the right is certainly a man on a mission, he’s brought down again. Free kick comes in headed just over the bar. The Rams certainly have their mojo back as first Taylor goes through, then Bioletti, both losing out at the last.
Jadama has a couple of opportunities as Rams have a three on two attack, only to have his effort blocked, then a back post header from another free kick going just wide.
Green has the beating of Grande every time, cuts in from the right gets off his shot, again Phillips cannot hold on and spills the ball at Taylor’s feet, for the striking superstar to fire home his second and Rams third. Taylor moves to twenty three goals in just twenty one games.
Both sides making substitutions. Hythe replacing a couple who are on yellow cards and Rams replacing Bioletti who has taken a knock, with Medy Elito and right at the end Jadama is replaced by Freddie Oliver just to strengthen the defence. As Rams claim another victory taking it to ten in a row.
RFSA player of the match: Jordan Green
Attendance: 757
The Teams:
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 2Alfie Young, 4Joe Ellul, 5Craig Stone, 7Benny Bioletti, 9Joe Taylor, 10Jordan Green, 11Alfie Paxman , 17Mike West, 15Lee Martin , 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 3Jack Parter, 6Bode Anidugbe, 14Medy Elito, 19Freddie Oliver, 8Jack Paxman
HYTHE: 1Steve Phillips, 2Sam Flisher , 3Kai Garande, 4Jack Steventon, 5Liam Smith, 6Bradley Schafer, 7Ethan Smith, 8Aaron Barnes , 9Johan Caney-Bryan, 10Frannie Collin, 11Jake Embery
Subs: 12Josh Stirman, 14Jarred Trespaderne, 15Kane Phillip, 16Charles Noyelle, 17Harry Rowland
Ramsgate next in action:
25Nov Away Cray Valley PM ILSE 3pm
04Dec Away AFC Wimbledon Emirates FA Cup 7:45pm
09Dec Away Three Bridges ILSE 3pm