By Darius Sarrafan
Ramsgate were cruelly denied three valuable points right at the death, but produced a performance full of quality and determination to draw 2-2 with Billericay Town at New Lodge. The match, marked by end-to-end action and late drama, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Manager Ben Smith made two changes from the side that exited the FA Cup last weekend, with Jerome Binnom-Williams and Benny Bioletti coming in for the suspended Harry Webster and Kai Garrett.
Ramsgate started brightly, with Ryan Kingsford’s clever layoff finding Mitch May in the fourth minute. His 18-yard strike was comfortably saved by Billericay goalkeeper Sam Donkin.
The Rams continued to press, and in the eighth minute, they created another good chance. Kingsford broke through midfield but was tackled, only for TJ Jadama to deliver a sublime pass to Alfie Paxman. The winger’s angled shot from the left was parried away to safety by Donkin.
Paxman remained a constant threat, and in the 12th minute, he combined with Benny Bioletti, who cut inside and curled a shot just wide from twelve yards.
The breakthrough came two minutes later, as Ramsgate’s persistence paid off. A flowing move down the right saw Barnes link up with Bioletti, who turned brilliantly and drove at the defense. After exchanging passes with Kingsford, Bioletti’s low cross was flicked home by Paxman, giving the Rams a deserved 1-0 lead.
Billericay responded immediately, with Femi Akinwande controlling a ball in the box, turning, and firing straight at Aiden Prall in the Rams goal. The hosts started to grow into the game, and in the 18th minute, Akinwande held up play before rolling the ball to Elliot Long, who scuffed a shot wide.
Ramsgate nearly doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Kingsford’s beautifully curled free-kick found the corridor of uncertainty, but Munday narrowly missed connecting for what would have been a certain goal.
As the first half progressed, both sides traded chances. Paxman, ever dangerous, won the ball in midfield on the half-hour mark, turned his marker, and unleashed a 20-yard effort that whistled just wide. Long responded five minutes later, beating his man but firing over from distance.
Deep in first-half stoppage time, Ramsgate’s Kingsford had a strong penalty appeal waved away before Billy Munday’s 30-yard drive was saved. 1-0 to the Rams is how it remained at the interval.
The high tempo continued as the second half began. With 54th minutes on the clock, Paxman’s pinpoint cross found May, whose header across goal was cleared. Billericay countered swiftly, with Tyrell Miller-Rodney shooting over from the edge of the box.
Ramsgate’s second goal arrived in the 63rd minute, and it was a slick move involving Binnom-Williams, Clifford, and Kingsford. It culminated in May’s unleashing a stunning 25-yard strike that dipped and crashed in off the crossbar, making it 2-0.
Billericay pulled one back in the 70th minute when a long ball found former Rams striker Joe Taylor, whose saved shot rebounded off him and rolled in for 2-1.
The drama peaked in the 93rd minute when Ryan Scott rose highest to head in a Billericay corner from the left, levelling the score at 2-2. A minute later, Liam Nash’s shot was cleared off the line, with the rebound going wide
This ensured both sides shared the spoils in a thrilling contest. Ramsgate would have more than merited the three points on the day, but will take plenty of heart as their performance sent the travelling 200 away fans home proud.
The Rams are next in action when neighbours Margate come to the WW Martin Community Stadium for a Kent Senior Cup tie this coming Tuesday, with kickoff at 7:45pm.
Ramsgate: Prall, Barnes, Brown, Binnom-Williams, Clifford, Munday, Jadama (Garrett), Kingsford, Bioletti, Paxman, May. Subs: Grant, Todd, Buckingham, Waddell.
Star man: Aaron Barnes
