By Darius Sarrafan
It was a 13th league win of the season for Ramsgate as they won 2-1 away from home on Tuesday evening, but they were made to fight hard by a determined Herne Bay side.
It was a special night for the huge contingent of Ramsgate fans that had made the journey, with a large percentage of the 862 attendance following Ben Smith’s team.
Debutant goalkeeper Dillon Addai had a night to remember, with some excellent saves to preserve the three points. The Rams made two changes from the side that beat Steyning Town on Saturday, with Jay Leader returning to the centre of defence in place of Joe Ellul and Addai replacing Henry Newcombe between the sticks.
It was yet another fast start to the game from the Rams, pressing high up the pitch and forcing their will on proceedings. Aaron Barnes had a goal ruled out for offside inside the first minute after tapping home from a free kick, before Alfie Paxman had an effort deflect kindly into the hands of Herne Bay goalkeeper Harry Brooks.
The visitors didn’t have to wait long for opening goal though, as in the 12th minute Joe Taylor notched his 23rd goal of the season. Billy Munday had a shot saved by Brooks after Leader had hooked the ball back into the area, and Taylor was there as always to tap home the rebound from a few yards out.
The highly vocal Ramsgate fans were loving what they were seeing, and seven minutes later they were sent into raptures again as their team doubled their lead. Josh Ajayi played the ball to Taylor, and he then provided a layoff for Lee Martin to unleash a brilliant curling effort over Brooks into the top corner. Taylor shot straight at Brooks a few minutes later before it was Roarie Deacon’s turn to go close, spinning his man and placing a left footed shot just wide of Brooks’ left hand post.
The impressive Scott Heard then curled an effort from distance for Herne Bay that was well held by Addai, before Ajayi then forced a good near post save from Brooks after a sharp turn and shot after great play in the buildup by TJ Jadama. Just before half time, Taylor pounced on a rare error by former Ram Jack Parter, intercepting his underhit backpass. He found himself one on one with Brooks, but unfortunately slipped at the vital moment – with his shot lacking the power he would’ve liked. Brooks made the save, and ensured that the score heading to the interval would remain at 2-0.
Herne Bay started the second half strongly, and straight from the restart they streamed forward. Heard worked room for a shot 25 yards out, and his left footed effort looked destined for the top corner before Addai pulled off a quite brilliant one handed save to tip the ball over the bar. It was surely the save of the season so far, and it was greeted with a huge roar from the away fans.
Three minutes later, Addai pulled off another great save from Heard, who was starting to assert more and more influence on the game as it went on. The home side kept up the pressure, and they were rewarded in the 63rd minute when they clawed a goal back. A corner was swung in from the left and substitute Harry Bridle volleyed a loose ball home via a deflection off Jadama, who almost pulled off a miraculous block.
Bridle headed wide from a cross into the box seven minutes later, before the Rams gained a second wind and started to create chances of their own on the break late on. Subs Benny Bioletti and Lewis Gard combined on the edge of the box, resulting in the former shooting straight at Brooks, before fellow sub Myles Judd forced Brooks into another good save at his near post in the 80th minute.
One minute later, and the home side were given a golden chance to restore parity. Aaron Barnes was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, and a penalty was awarded. Parter stepped up to take the penalty, but the ball smashed against the crossbar before looping out of play. The Rams fans again went wild, and sang their team home despite 6 nervy minutes of stoppage time, during which Bioletti was unlucky to see a touch round Brooks drift out of play just before he could apply the finish.
It was yet another special night on the road for Ramsgate and their travelling army of supporters, who gleefully revelled in another massive three points. The Rams are next in action this coming Saturday with a trip to Sevenoaks Town.
Ramsgate: Addai, Deacon (Judd), Barnes, Leader, Clifford, Martin, Munday, Jadama (Gard), Ajayi (Bioletti), Paxman, Taylor. Subs: Ellul, Garrett.
