By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Hythe Town 2 Ramsgate 2
Lex Allan (14) Jack S Paxman (44)
Jake Embery (79) Alfie Paxman (69)
A very spongy surface, boggy in places at the Reachfields stadium, the weather clear and spring like.
Hythe kick off the first half, instantly attacking down the right, Rams break up the attack and instantly release a ball forwards for Alfie Paxman on the left, he quickly gets into a shooting position, fires in but wide.
Couple of minutes in Rams have a corner on the right, in swinging from A Paxman, Sinnkaye Christie rises to head but out for a goal kick. Rams have certainly started this match brightly and are piling on the early pressure putting Hythe on the back foot.
Joe Taylor down by the goal line, back to goal, manages to earn Rams a second corner on the right, in again from A Paxman, headed out by Lex Allan, drops to Bode Anidugbe to strike from range, his shot too high.
Thirteenth, Rams giveaway a needless free kick to the left midway inside Rams half. Frannie Collin floats the ball into the area and Lex Allan rises to head home for a fourteenth minute lead for the hosts.
The pitch already cutting up and the ball bobbling over the surface as both teams try to play a passing game. Rams move the ball quickly through midfield up to Taylor who wins Rams a third corner. Played in again by A Paxman on the right, an easy one for Allan to clear.
Rams are continuing to press. Jack S Paxman receives the ball wide right, moves toward goal, takes a shot into the arms of Steve Phillips in the Hythe goal.
Twenty second, a wonderful Hythe move as they win the ball in midfield. Collin sees a forward run and delivers a magic through ball only for the referee to pull play back for a foul. Hythe must feel aggrieved as Johan Carney-Bryan would have been through with just Tom Hadler to beat.
Twenty fourth, as Rams go down the right-wing Wes Hennessey and Jack A Paxman link up, opening Hythe up, the later whipping a cross right across the Hythe area but no Ram in the box to tap home.
Rams still showing their attacking prowess as they go forward again earning a fourth corner. Hennessy receives the ball from a low corner from A Paxman, takes on Kai Garande who wins the challenge.
Another swift move on the deteriorating surface as Hennessey powers down the right, this time rounds Garande firing into the side netting. Rams though are becoming more reliant on hitting long balls forward because of the surface.
Thirty second, Hadler having collected the ball from a Hythe attack, quickly releases a long ball forward for Jack Parter to chase, he brings the ball under control goes to move into a shooting position but is caught from behind. A Rams free kick to the left of the area fired over by A Paxman.
Hythe attacking, slot the ball through to Embery, he shoots deflecting off Anidugbe for Hythe’s first corner. Hythe always look dangerous from set pieces as Allan at 6 foot 7 inches towers over most other players. Rams will have to be careful as not only do Hythe have Collin to set up dead ball plays but also the long throw threat of Jack Steventon.
As Rams continue to attack, the pressure must tell, they certainly feel that they should be at least level, Jack A Paxman pulls a shot just wide forty first minute.
Rams play out from the back up the left wing to Parter, he switches the ball to the left for A Paxman, he sets the ball for Jack S Paxman, with work to do he takes the ball to his right and hits a super curling shot, passing the outstretched Phillips for a Rams equaliser on the stroke of half time.
A slow start to the second half, Hythe make an early change as debutant Kian Garlinge replaces Aaron Barnes in the midfield, a like for like change.
Fifty minutes in J S Paxman sees a gap, goes through on goal, his shot blocked as Rams gain another corner. Although they are winning the possession battle, they struggle to do anything with the corners, as Allan always seems to be there.
Taylor goes through thinks he had more time than he did, as Bradley Schafer recovers to block Taylor’s shot. Hennessey has a one-on-one opportunity with Phillips but hits the ball straight at the keeper.
After a short spell of Hythe Town pressure, Rams break with Hennessey and Taylor powering forward, they create a shooting chance but Taylor hits over.
Sixty ninth, Rams go down the right and cross to the back post where A Paxman is waiting, the ball drops perfectly for him to slam home.
Rams make their first change as Benny Bioletti replaces Hennessey, who must be shattered having made so many runs on a what must feel like running in quicksand.
Bioletti has certainly upped the pace down the Rams right and Garande is struggling to keep up with him, as Rams win a sixth corner. With nearly every player now in the Hythe half, Hythe clear from the corner but Rams win the ball back, played in for Taylor but he’s unable to generate any power in his shot.
Seventy ninth, for a Hythe free kick played forward low this time catching Rams, as Embery steals, the march goes past the defence and slots home under Hadler, to level the match again.
Eighty third, Bioletti chases a long ball down the middle, sees Phillips off his line, he flicks the ball up and over the keeper, but sees it drop just wide.
Rams second change, Medy Elito replaces Parter, as Rams go for the victory making this attacking change. Rams straight on the attack from a Hythe corner as Christie clears up field to a lone Taylor, he switches the ball to the left wing for A Paxman to run on to, he returns the ball to Taylor who tries to place his shot but is fractions wide.
Rams concede a late free kick. Collin over the ball, this time thankfully into the arms of Hadler to stop the threat.
We enter four added minutes, Rams rushing forward have a couple of late throw-ins deep in the Hythe half, J S Paxman long throw in to the area headed on but ruled offside and the whistle blows.
An entertaining game bearing in mind the playing surface.
Attendance: 517
RFSA Player of the match: Jack S Paxman
The Teams:
HYTHE: 1Steve Phillips, 2Sam Flisher, 3Kai Garande, 4Jack Steventon, 5Lex Allan, 6Joshua Wisson, 7Aaron Barnes, 8Bradley Schafer, 9Johan Caney-Bryan, 10Frannie Collin, 11Jake Embery
Subs 12Jarred Trespaderne, 14Oscar Webb, 15Kian Garlinge, 16Harry Rowland, 17Josh Stirman
RAMS: 1Tom Hadler, 3Jack Parter, 4Sinnkaye Christie, 5Craig Stone, 6Bode Anidugbe, 8Jack A Paxman, 9Joe Taylor, 11Alfie Paxman, 16Jack S Paxman, 18Dan Johnson. 19Wes Hennessey
Subs: 7Benny Bioletti, 13Archie Simmons, 14Medy Elito, 12Jack Hawkins, 17Tristan Holden
Ramsgate next in action:
Sat 10 Feb H Merstham Isthmian South East 3pm
Tue 13 Feb A Horndean Isthmian South East 7.45pm
Sat 17 Feb H Broadbridge Heath Isthmian South East 3pm
For away travel contact Steve Miller on 07508-364101
