By Darius Sarrafan
It was a valiant effort by the Rams on Easter Monday, but ultimately they fell just short as league champions Folkestone Invicta came away with a narrow 3-2 victory.
Billy Munday had put the Rams in front before a Jake Hutchinson brace turned the contest around by the half hour for the hosts.
The returning Solomon Ogunwomoju’s header sent the sides into the break level, before Eze Ebuzoeme was shown a straight red card for a high foot. Nathan Paul-Lavaly swept home a winning goal for Invicta shortly afterwards to condemn the Rams to defeat.
Manager Lee Martin made one change to the team that narrowly lost to Cray Valley PM on Good Friday, with Ogunwomoju restored to the starting lineup in place of TQ Addy.
A frenetic start to the game saw TJ Jadama’s early header pushed onto the post by Folkestone keeper Ted Collins, before former Ram Ryan Kingsford stung the hands of Dillon Addai with a low effort moments later.
The away side took the lead in the 13th minute as Munday was left unmarked six yards out to head home Alfie Paxman’s corner. Greg Cundle had a chance to double the lead not long after, but a superb last-ditch block from Liam Smith denied what looked to be a certain goal.
The hosts drew level on the half hour after Hutchinson showed his poacher-like instincts to hook home from six yards after a cross was flicked on in the box. Five minutes later, the league’s top goalscorer notched his second after robbing Addai and rolling into an empty net.
The setbacks didn’t stop the Rams from coming forward though, and they equalised shortly before half time after great work by Benny Bioletti down the left. He beat a man before crossing for Ogunwomoju to head home despite Collins getting a hand to the ball. 2-2 was how it remained at the interval.
The Rams were the better team for the first twenty minutes of the second half, with Ogunwomoju going close with another header shortly after the restart. Ade Yusuff dragged a shot wide when well placed for Invicta, but this was somewhat against the run of play.
The game’s completion changed with 25 minutes to go after Ebuzoeme was given his marching orders for a clumsy, studs up challenge that caught Yusuff on the chest, giving referee Kane Dempster little choice but to show the Rams player a red card.
Folkestone retook the lead six minutes later after Paul-Lavaly beat Paxman in the right channel before sweeping a finish across Addai into the far corner. The Rams keeper made late saves to deny Hutchinson and Mikey Berry, and 3-2 was how the scoreline remained at full time.
Ramsgate: Addai, Cundle, Lukombo (Addy), Gayle, Brown, Paxman, Munday, Ebuzoeme, Jadama (Hunter), Ogunwomoju, Bioletti (Lucan). Sub: Martin.
Star man: Billy Munday
