By Darius Sarrafan
Ramsgate laid down a huge statement of intent by thrashing St. Albans City 4-0 in the Kent sunshine. Two goals in each half was enough for the Rams to record a comfortable victory against their well fancied opposition – sending a statement to the league in the process.
The hosts played their illustrious opponents off the park at times – and in reality could’ve won the game by an even bigger scoreline. Two changes were made to the starting XI who were so unlucky to fall to defeat at Enfield – with Henry Lukombo returning in place of Axel Ampadu and Jacob Bland coming in for the injured Benny Bioletti.
The game began with St Albans creating a chance after good work down the left by Mikey Faulkner, and his cross found Jake Gray in the area, but Jonny Henly was out quickly to deny him. Billy Munday opening the scoring in the 20th minute when he finished low into the bottom corner after the excellent Rowan Liburd played a killer through-ball.
Eight minutes later it was 2-0 as red-hot striker Callum Jones finished emphatically after Munday provided a sumptuous through-ball of his own. It was Jones’ fifth goal in his first four games of the season.
In truth, the Rams could’ve been out of sight by half-time – with Liburd and Jones coming so close to adding the lead only to be denied by Saints custodian Sam Donkin. Jones in particular will feel unlucky not to have scored as Donkin denied him not once, but twice in quick succession.
Three minutes into the second half, Liburd bagged the goal his performances this season have richly deserved by superbly flicking home Alfie Paxman’s cross with the outside of his right boot following good linkup play down the left with Tom Clifford.
Rams goalkeeper Henly made a superb one-handed save to tip Inih Effiong’s fierce drive onto the crossbar, but this was the closest the Saints came to establishing something in a game that was always out of their reach.
The cherry was placed on top of the cake on 68 minutes, when Bivesh Gurung bagged his first goal for Ramsgate after more good work by Paxman – this time down the right. He beat a man before Donkin could only palm away his cross towards the penalty spot. Gurung was quickest to react, slotting home the rebound.
The hosts could’ve added to their lead after sub Solomon Ogunwomoju lifted a shot over the bar when well placed late on, but it was a comfortable win for the home side.
They are next in action with a trip to another hotly fancied side in Welling United this coming Saturday 29th August. Two coaches full of Rams fans will be making the journey, with kick off at 3pm.
Ramsgate: Henly, Lukombo, Winfield, Brown, Clifford, Gurung, Bland (Cotton), Munday (Ogunwomoju), Jones (Ampadu), Paxman (Tullis), Liburd (Mann). Star man: Rowan Liburd.
