By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 4 Burgess Hill Town 2
Craig Stone (36) Dan Perry (29)
Medy Elito (42) Kieran Rowe (31)
Bode Anidugbe (55)
Tijan Jadama (84)
A very chilly afternoon at the WW Martin Community stadium, as Ramsgate host Burgess Hill Town, the ‘Hillians‘. This should be a classic as both sides are in great form and like to play a passing game at pace.
We get under way, Ramsgate attacking the airport end for the first half. Rams start brightly and are awarded a free kick in the first minute into the area from Lee Marin, headed on by Tijan Jadama just evading Craig Stone.
Hillians do look dangerous going forward with a very young fast side. They quickly move the ball out to the right wing to Marcel Powell, he beats Jack Parter with a super turn and plays the ball into the area. Dan Johnson clears for a corner just beating Dan Perry to the ball.
Hillians have back-to-back corners before Rams are able to clear their lines.
We are only in the ninth minute and the pace is incredible, both sides moving the ball quickly up the field. Hillians break up a Rams move in the midfield and fire the ball out to the right for Powell who again plays a great ball into the Rams box, this time Stone clears for another Hillians corner.
Rams put together a couple of good moves with Parter attacking down the left linking with Alfie Paxman but they are crowded out by the stout Hillians defence. The Hillians are looking a very difficult side to breakdown, they are well organised and quick to cover each other.
Twenty second, a right royal mess up at the back, Tom Hadler missing the ball, presenting Perry with a glorious chance but Parter puts his body on the line and somehow manages to block Perry’s effort. The ball rebounds back to Perry, he shots again, this time Hadler has recovered and makes a brilliant diving save.
Rams look to attack using that as the best form of defence. They have a five-minute spell of pressure with shots coming in for Martin. Bode Anidugbe forcing a couple of excellent saves from Toby Bull in the Hillians’ goal.
Twenty ninth, Hillans on the attack. Powell lays a ball back from his wide position, crossed into the area, drops to Perry who fires home past Hadler. Hillians with their tails up are exuding confidence, looking to build on their advantage. Rams still not settled after conceding and the defence appears to be parting like the red sea as Kieran Rowe collects a pass about forty yards out from the Rams goal, he dribbles past the static defence and places his shot out of the reach of Hadler for a two goal lead.
Rams not deterred by the fact they are two down, begin the fight back. Thirty fifth minute, a Rams attack sees Jadama hit the near post and out for a corner, the ball played in and tipped out by Bull for a corner from the right, the ball comes through to Stone who puts the ball away for a Rams goal.
The Hillians seem to have relaxed, too much thinking the job was done at two nil, but the character shown by the Rams is telling. Forty second minute, a throw deep in the Hillians’ half, thrown to Taylor he beats the defender down to the byline, cuts the ball back across from the near post for Medy Elito to rifle in the leveller just before half time.
The second half starts brightly for the Rams with A Paxman getting more and more into the game, bringing in Parter and Taylor as Rams take a firm grip on the game.
Fifty fifth, after sustained attacks Rams finally break the Hillians hearts as Taylor out wide plays a perfectly weighed pass for A Paxman, the ball back into the area for Taylor’s run, he back heels the ball to Anidugbe to strike home across Bull into the corner of the net.
Hillians are struggling to contain Rams mounting pressure, the Rams forward line seem to be taking turns at shooting, certainly keeping Bull a very busy man in the goal. Jack Taylor and Owen Spicer, the Hillian’s centre half’s, also being kept busy by the work rate of Taylor in the area.
Both sides making their allotted substitutions. This does not affect the game as Rams now look to put the game beyond Hillians, numerous chances falling to Taylor who, this match, has been provider rather than scorer.
The Rams supporters really getting behind the team with a cacophony of sound, the beat of the drum as they go through their repertoire. Although they are on edge with the slender advantage.
Not until the eighty fourth minute can they relax. A long pass forward from Parter, over the Hillians back line, Jadama runs through sees Bull coming off his line toward him and casually picks his spot and passes the ball into the back of the net.
Hillians, although down, not out, as they create a last chance as a wonderful piece of skill sees sub Alex Brewer makes a Cruyff turn in the area, opens up the space but tries to pass rather than shoot.
Wes Hennessy who had replaced Elito, playing in just behind Taylor, had three opportunities within the last ten minutes as his electric pass at this point was far too much for a now tired Hillians defence.
Ramsgate showed their resolve and deserved the three points in a very competitive game.
Attendance: 1034
RFSA Player of the match: Medy Elito
The Teams:
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 3Jack Parter, 5Craig Stone, 6Bode Anidugbe, 8Jack A Paxman, 9Joe Taylor, 11Alfie Paxman, 14Medy Elito, 15Lee Martin, 18Dan Johnson, 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 2Alfie Young, 7Zack Jobe, 13Lee Hook, 16Wes Hennessey, 17Mike West
HILLIANS: 1Toby Bull, 2Reggie Ward, 3Martyn Box, 4Jack Taylor, 5Owen Spicer, 6Harry Lawson, 7Marcel Powell, 8Kieran Rowe, 9Dan Perry, 10Noah Hoffman, 11Reece Hallard
Subs: 12Joseph Overy, 14Darren Budd, 16Alex Brewer, 17Zack Lawrance, 18Dylan Hurst
Ramsgate next in action:
Tue 16 Jan A Ashford United Isthmian South East 7.45pm
Sat 20 Jan A Horndean Isthmian South East 3pm
Tue 23 Jan A Three Bridges Isthmian South East 7.45pm
For away travel contact Steve Miller on 07508-364101
