By Darius Sarrafan
Ramsgate cruised in to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup after a 3-1 win at home to Isthmian Premier side Folkestone Invicta.
The hosts made three changes from the side that beat Deal Town on bank holiday Monday, with Roarie Deacon, Medy Elito and Josh Ajayi coming in for Joe Ellul, Tom Carlse and Benny Bioletti.
The game started cautiously as both sides felt each other out, with positive signs for the Rams going forward. The game burst in to life on 10 minutes when TJ Jadama was cynically taken down by Invicta’s Eze Ebuzoeme when through on goal. The referee had no other option but to show the red card, leaving the visitors down to ten men.
The Rams immediately looked to make their numerical superiority count, monopolising possession and limiting the visitors to rare long balls forward. Alfie Paxman went close on 17 minutes with a shot straight at Folkestone keeper Jonathan Henly, whilst Jadama forced a fine save out of the Invicta custodian soon after.
It seemed only a matter of time before the Rams would break the deadlock, with wave after wave of attacks being stubbornly defended by a well drilled Folkestone side, but the deadlock was finally broken in first half stoppage time. Tom Clifford’s rasping drive was parried into the path of Lewis Gard, and the Rams’ number 8 kept his cool to slot home, giving his side a deserved lead as they headed into the interval.
The second half started as the first half ended, with the Rams in the ascendancy. Josh Ajayi hit the post with a curling effort from a Joe Taylor cutback on 50 minutes, and the visitors were stubbornly sticking to their plan of trying to pinch something on the break. On 55 minutes, it was time for new boy Myles Judd to make his debut, coming on for Aaron Barnes. The visitors went close to an equaliser on 58 minutes as Tom Derry hit the woodwork following a driving run.
This warning shot didn’t deter the Rams, however, and Taylor had an effort saved following a surging run from Judd, before the second goal finally arrived on 70 minutes. A thorough ball to substitute TT Walters resulted in a cutback to Taylor, who unselfishly backheeled for Paxman to slot home his first goal of the season, sending the home faithful into ecstasy.
Folkestone came out of their shell at this point looking for a way back in to the game. Tom Hadler had to make a great save from Dave Smith before Smith flicked in a Derry cross to halve the deficit on 87 minutes, giving the away side hope. The hope was swiftly distinguished, however, as a lovely through ball from Jadama left Paxman through on goal. He expertly rounded Henly and finished into the empty net to seal the home side’s place in the next round.
A routine win for the Rams, who looked like the team from a division above instead of their opponents. Dreams of another cup run are starting to build again at the WW Martin Community Stadium.
Ramsgate: Hadler, Deacon, Barnes (Judd), Leader, Clifford, Elito (Carlse), Gard (Bioletti), Jadama, Ajayi (Walters), Paxman, Taylor. Subs: Ellul, Newcombe.
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