By Darius Sarrafan
Ramsgate slipped to defeat on the road to in-form St Albans City this past Saturday as they fell by a scoreline of two goals to nil.
Manager Lee Martin was forced into a change in midfield, with Greg Cundle replacing the unwell TJ Jadama. Kweku Lucan also returned to the starting lineup in place of Eze Ebuzoeme. On a sunny day in front of a crowd of over 1400, the game began in cagey fashion – with chances at a premium in the early going.
It took until the twelfth minute for the first meaningful shot, with Benny Bioletti volleying towards goal from the back post after Alfie Paxman crossed from the left. City goalkeeper Sam Donkin held the effort well at his near post.
The home side went close ten minutes later after Jasper Mather latched onto an overhit cross on the left side of the box. He cut inside before firing towards goal, but Dillon Addai managed to smartly divert the ball away before it was cleared.
Lucan was then denied what looked to be a clear penalty after being challenged from behind by Sonny Hart, but referee Samuel Olhausen deemed the challenge to be fair. It was a bright return to the side for Lucan, forcing Donkin into action just after the half hour before curling a follow-up effort over the bar.
Rolando Onu squared to Bioletti on the break a few minutes later, and the speedy winger took a couple of touches to compose himself before shooting. Donkin was again up to the challenge though, palming the shot away to his right before the hosts cleared their lines.
It remained goalless at the break, and the Rams had the first chance of the second period after Billy Munday headed over from Paxman’s free kick. The Saints took the lead just after the hour after Paxman fouled Zane Benton inside the box. Banton stepped up to take the spot-kick, and despite Addai brilliantly saving the first effort, he nodded in the rebound from close range.
Billy Munday’s deflected cross forced Donkin into action done one handed save five minutes later, but the game was effectively over as a context shortly afterwards. Ramsgate were reduced to ten men on 69 minutes after Tom Clifford was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Alex Dyer.
From the resulting free kick, Jamal Fyfield found space in the box to flick a header past Addai to make it 2-0. Cundle went close to reducing the arrears late on after more good work by Bioletti, but Hart did brilliantly to deflect his shot over the bar.
2-0 was how it remained until the final whistle, with a bright cameo from youngster Liam Tullis a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing day. The Rams next in action when they make the long journey to take on Chichester City this coming Saturday 28th March. Kickoff is at 3pm.
Ramsgate: Addai, Bioletti, Lukombo, Gayle, Brown, Paxman, Munday, Clifford, Cundle (Tullis), Onu (Ebuzoeme), Lucan (Addy). Subs: Buckingham, Mileham.
Star man: Benny Bioletti.
