By Darius Sarrafan
They left it late, but Ramsgate made it six league wins in a row with a 1-0 victory away at Erith Town.
The Rams were unchanged again from the side that defeated Beckenham Town 5-0 last time out. It was an attritional game against a well drilled Dockers team, but the Rams showed great character to keep going and grab a deserved win in the end.
Chances were at a premium in the opening stages, with Erith happy to let the visitors dominate possession. Benny Bioletti flicked a header straight into the arms of Dockers goalkeeper Nathan Edwards in the sixth minute, before Callum McGeehan forced Tom Hadler into a save low to his left with a shot towards goal from twenty yards four minutes later.
The hosts were proving to be a threat on the break, moving the ball forward quickly whenever they won possession back. Harry Taylor was denied a shot at goal after one of these breaks by a superb defensive challenge from Joe Ellul in the fifteenth minute, but the Rams continues to probe and keep hold of the ball for long spells.
Tom Clifford curled a free kick over the bar before Jay Leader took aim from thirty yards and struck a shot straight into the arms of Edwards on 35 minutes. Two minutes later, Alfie Paxman found some space in the left channel, but his low cross from the byline just evaded TJ Jadama at the back post as the ball agonisingly trickled out of play.
Jadama then had a shot go high and wide of Edwards’ goal in the 41st minute. The best chance of the half for the hosts arrived shortly afterwards, with Harry Taylor finding himself in on goal. His left footed shot beat Hadler but could only trickle wide of the right hand post.
Ellul then just couldn’t make contact at the back post from a corner, before Bioletti found the ball in the right channel with a chance to run on goal in first half stoppage time. He drove a low shot on target, but Edwards made a great save low to his right to ensure the score remained goalless going into the interval.
The second half started in similar fashion, with the visitors pinning the hosts back deeper and deeper into their own half as they continued to look for a breakthrough. Billy Munday and Joe Taylor were both denied by great defending, with neither able to get their shots in on goal as a result. Lee Martin then took aim from 22 yards on the hour mark but his shot was hit straight at Edwards, who made the save.
Despite the pressure, the Rams were finding it difficult to carve out many clear chances, with the Dockers defence proving to be a formidable opponent. Jefferson Aibangbee made his Rams debut off the bench and looked very lively in the process, but Erith continued to hold on. The threat on the break reared its head again late on, with Taylor forcing Hadler into a save after a cross had come in from the left wing.
It was going to take a real moment of quality to break the deadlock, and it finally arrived in the third minute of stoppage time. Martin was fouled twenty yards out, and substitute Josh Ajayi stepped up to curl in a brilliant free kick to send the huge travelling away contingent into wild celebrations. The outpouring of emotion was there for all to see, with players and supporters celebrating with real vigour.
Erith had a chance to steal an equaliser right at the death following a long throw into the box, but Taylor could only slice a shot wide from ten yards out. Ramsgate saw the game out afterwards to claim a priceless victory. They are next in action with a trip to Merstham this coming Tuesday 28th January.
Ramsgate: Hadler, Deacon, Ellul, Leader, Clifford, Martin, Munday (Gard), Jadama (Barnes), Bioletti (Ajayi), Paxman (Aibangbee), Taylor. Sub: Newcombe.
