By pitchside reporter Andy Mason
Ramsgate 0 Chichester City 1
The heavens open prior to the kick off, the floodlights are on and we are set for the semi final of the Isthmian League South East, with Ramsgate hosting Chichester City.
Rams having a full-strength side going into this game, a large Tuesday evening crowd full of expectation. Rams kicking toward the town end having lost the toss.
As the Rams get underway they look strong going forward, as Joe Turner cuts inside from the right, his shot going just wide of the left post from his curling effort.
City break forward, ball played into the area, Jimmy Wild in acres of space manages to fire over from within the six-yard box. Rams are certainly going to have to be aware of the threat.
It has been an even start, other than the odd defensive error. Highlighted in the fourteenth as they play a ball across the back line with Alex Brefo immediately in trouble as two City players close him down stealing the ball, getting a shot on target, blocked for a corner.
City have really come into the game, a long ball fired in, evading Brefo runs through to Issac Bello, he forces a fantastic save low to his right from Tom Hadler for a City corner, played into the area and headed over.
As Rams push forward City are getting all eleven players behind the ball. Rams are in a golden spot as they push City back with chances falling for Joe Turner, Jordan Green and Benni Bioletti but Kieran Magee in the City goal is saving everything Rams can throw at him.
As Rams continue with the pressure Joe Taylor is not finding any space with two City players on him all the time, frustrating the Rams attacker.
The Rams creative play has been excellent, just very resilient defending by the City keeping them in the game. A mistake from Magee as he kicks a ball out from the back going straight to Bioletti, he’s closed down quickly but does get a left foot shot away but too high.
As we approach half time City get the ball in the Rams box, Tom Hadler is out quickly to save at the feet of Issac Bello. Rams go forward again down the right wing for Turner, he cuts the ball across for Taylor to slam the ball home but the flag goes up for offside.
A thrilling first half comes to an end, the players drenched by the heavy rainfall will be glad of a break and a clean dry shirt.
Rams forced into a change at half time as Bioletti had picked up a knock, coming on Jack Paxman, this is a like for like swap with Paxman fitting in as right wing back.
The half has been a little slow to get going, the first five minutes of just knocking the ball around, then City pick up the pace pouncing on a defensive mistake, as Jimmy Wild, City’s tall centre forward, holds up the ball, passes inside to Josh Clack in behind the Rams defence, Craig Stone recovers to block the effort and break up the attack.
City look to sit back with everyone back in their own half, they give away a freekick wide left level with the six-yard area, Lee Martin strikes, the kick beat Magee and flies off the crossbar.
Wave after wave of Rams attacks but still City stay strong, coming up to an hour played, the City goal is living a charmed life as Rams strikers queue to take it in turns to shoot. First Joe Taylor has two chances stopped, then Joe Turner has a shot, then Alfie Paxman all in one attack with Magee saving with any part of his body he can get on the ball, how Rams have not scored is beyond belief.
If City had a game plan it was to just flood the box with defenders and hit Rams on the break, as Rams continue to play excellent attacking football, with nearly every player bar Hadler in the City half there’s so little space in which to create that little bit of magic.
City have made a couple of changes as they continue to defend with a very deep back line.
Tijan Jadama goes down with an injury and is replace by Medy Elito, perhaps he can find that elusive spark.
We are on the verge of extra time, eighty seven played, when from nothing Lee Martin loses the ball in midfield, City quickly get it forward to Mo Jammeh, he strikes, his shot hits a defender and goes straight back to him, he takes a step to his left and shoots again, Hadler unsighted cannot get across his goal quick enough and the ball grazing the post nestles in the back of the net.
The referee indicates an additional eight minutes, Rams make a change as Alex Brefo defender is replaced by Wes Hennessey striker, as Rams are desperate to get back in the game. They try in vain throwing everything at City who hold out to take their place in the play-off final.
For the neutral, this was the most thrilling match, on both sides the officials were brilliant, this was non-league football at its best and a great example for all the youngsters that were there to watch.
RFSA player of the match: Matthew Attenborough-Warren
Attendance: 1462
The Teams:
RAMS:1Tom Hadler, 4Alex Brefo, 5Craig Stone, 7Benny Bioletti, 9Joe Taylor, 11Alfie Paxman, 12Matthew Attenborough-Warren, 10Jordan Green, 15Lee Martin, 19Joe Turner, 20Tijan Jadama
Subs: 3Jack Parter, 8Jack A Paxman, 14Medy Elito, 17Wes Hennessey, 18Sinnkaye Christie
CHICHESTER: 1Kieran Magee, 2Ryan Davidson, 3Rob Hutchings, 4Joe Moore, 5Curtis Da Costa, 6Connor Cody, 7Josh Clack, 8Joe Clarke, 9Jimmy Wild, 10Lloyd Rowlatt, 11Isaac Bello
Subs: 14Mo Jammeh, 15Ben Pashley, 16Ethan Prichard, 17Kaleem Haitham, 18Oliver Munt
