By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 4 Chichester City 0
Joe Taylor (32, 71)
Alfie Paxman (74, 89)
A bitterly cold evening at the WW Martin Community stadium and a delayed kick off due to travel issues for our visitors, who literally have to enter the pitch and have a very quick warm up and then go straight into action.
Rams get us underway attacking the airport end of the ground, as the drizzle starts to fall just to add to the freezing temperature.
Rams start brightly with Alfie Paxman going down the left and crossing in early to Joe Taylor who turns on a sixpence and fires in a powerful shot, Kieran Magee in the Chichester goal stays firm and saves well.
Chichester respond and are immediately on the attack as Josh Clark crosses over, Conrad Honore leaps and his header goes just over Tom Hadler’s crossbar.
The wind picks up causing the ball to move in the air. Chichester have the wind at their backs and make good use of it. A through ball finds Emmet Dunn unmarked, he goes through, Hadler out to narrow the angle saves with his legs and Rams clear.
Dunn is certainly causing a few problems for the Rams defence, as Chichester create another opportunity – this time Dunn fires over.
Rams still yet to settle into the match and are struggling against a good-looking Chichester side.
Thirty-second minute Alfie Paxman breaks past two defenders, passes to Lee Martin, who instantly squares the ball to Taylor. He’s surrounded by four defenders, with his back to goal he twists around and shoots all in the blink of an eye and the ball is in the back of the net.
A good response from Chichester as they go forward and Honore shoots just wide.
Rams now with a little more confidence are looking to press for a second goal before half time as Jordan Green coming in off the right wing, links up with Taylor, who sets the ball perfectly for Green to strike at goal, a good low save from Magee.
Rams press again, a ball into Taylor to the left of goal, he goes down under a challenge, gets back to his feet and wins a corner. The ball comes out to Martin who cannot keep the ball down and fires over.
Chichester has a golden opportunity just before the half time whistle as Dunn is put through, for another one on one with Hadler, this time slotting wide.
The start of the second half, the conditions have worsened with heavier driving rain and the wind seems to have picked up even more.
Rams down the right as Taylor and Green link up again, Green goes through but tries to cross back rather than shooting, giving Chichester an easy opportunity to clear.
Fifty-fifth, a wonderful Rams move as Taylor comes deep, flick passes to Jack Paxman down the right. A perfectly struck cross evades everyone in the box though. Rams fans really getting behind their side as they can see the nerves creeping in from the team.
Green put though again no real power on his effort and it’s easily saved by Magee. Green again cuts in from the wing and is brought down just outside the area and to the right. Alfie Paxman tries a curler heading toward the back post inches wide of the post.
Sixty-fifth, Green through again, this time a fantastic saving tackle by Joe Clark, preventing a certain goal.
Seventy-first, a wonder pass from Jack Parter finds Taylor who’s onside, rounds the keeper and slots home Rams and his second.
Rams playing with total control now, a through ball for Alfie Paxman coming in from the left wing he has no other intention than going for goal. He hits a powerful shot passing Magee for Rams third in the seventy-fourth.
Rams substitution as Green makes way for Benny Bioletti, seventy-seventh.
A little altercation and a bit of pushing and shoving resulting in a couple of yellow cards, Rams have the free kick, swung into the middle Craig Stone who’s up from the back, unmarked, heads wide.
Eighty-eighth minute, Dunn receives a second yellow after clattering into the back of Tijan Jadama who would have been through on goal. Dunn has his marching orders, reducing Chichester to ten men. Rams take full advantage as a super pass splits the defence and Alfie Paxman runs through and smashes in his second and Rams fourth.
Rams make a couple of changes as Dan Johson back from injury replaces Parter and Freddie Oliver replaces Jadama, to make sure of another clean sheet.
Attendance: 645
RFSA player of the match: Alfie Paxman
The teams:
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 2Alfie Young, 3Jack Parter, 5Craig Stone, 8Jack Paxman , 9Joe Taylor, 10Jordan Green, 11Alfie Paxman, 15Lee Martin, 17Mike West, 20Tijan Jadama,
Subs: 4Dan Johnson, 6Bode Anidugbe, 7Benny Bioletti, 18Sinnkaye Christie, 19Freddie Oliver
CHICHESTER: 1Kieran Magee, 2Isaac Bello, 3Rob Hutchings, 4Joe Clarke, 5Curtis Da Costa, 6Ryan Davidson, 7Josh Clack, 8Joe Moore, 9Conrad Honore, 10Emmett Dunn , 11Kyle O’Brien
Subs: 14Olly Munt, 15Owen Spicer, 16Lee Seokjae, 17Kaleem Haitham
Ramsgate next in Action:
Sun 17 Dec A Erith & Belvedere Isthmian South East 3pm
Tue 26 Dec H Herne Bay Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 30 Dec H Sevenoaks Town Isthmian South East 3pm
Coaches currently available for away games contact Steve Miller on 07508 364101