By Darius Sarrafan
Mitchell May left off the bench to grab a second half winner for Ramsgate to make it five wins in a row in all competitions, but they were made to graft hard by a dynamic Wingate & Finchley side.
Manager Lee Martin made two changes to the side that defeated Potters Bar Town in their last league game, with Liam Nash and Greg Cundle coming into the starting lineup in place of Solomon Ogunwomoju and the injured TJ Jadama.
It was an open start to the game, with both sides creating chances in the opening minutes. Wingate captain Billy Cracknell headed over from a set piece before Nash glanced a header just wide when well placed eight yards out for the Rams.
Cracknell was again off target for the hosts when he headed towards goal from another set piece on nine minutes. It was Cundle’s turn to go close six minutes later for Ramsgate, but his left effort was smartly saved by Charlie Grainger before Alfie Paxman’s follow-up shot sailed over the bar.
Play was halted for eight minutes after a nasty clash with Ben Frempeh resulted in Henry Lukombo being stretchered off with a head injury, with no blame at all attached to the Wingate player. Logan Dobbs replaced Lukombo and impressed throughout with an imperious display.
Nash went close twice before the end of the half, glancing a header just over the crossbar before swivelling away from a defender and dragging a left footed shot just wide of the far post. Kweku Lucan also forced Grainger into a save, whilst Camilo Restrepo had a goalbound shot well blocked by Dobbs.
The second period continued in the same, frantic way – with the hosts movement ensuring they kept posing the Rams plenty of questions. Caolin McGettigan epitomised Wingate’s threat, and on 49 minutes he embarked on a mazy, 60 yard run that resulted in him shooting just wide of goal.
The same player won a penalty for the hosts six minutes later, but Dillon Addai did superbly to leap to his left to keep out Gianluca Botti’s spot kick. The home side were made to pay on 71 minutes as Ramsgate took the lead. Ian Gayle’s switch of play found Cundle on the left side of the box, and his shot hit the post before May tapped home the rebound to spark jubilant scenes behind the goal.
Frempeh forced Addai into action with a low shot in the first minute of added time, but the big goalkeeper and the rest of the Rams defence held firm to clinch another victory. The team are next in action today (7th February) with a trip to Cray Wanderers.
Ramsgate: Addai, Bioletti (Webster), Lukombo (Dobbs), Gayle, Brown, Paxman, Munday, Clifford (Ebuzoeme), Cundle, Nash (Ogunwomoju), Lucan (May).
Star man: Ian Gayle.
Photo by Dan Whitehead.
