By Darius Sarrafan
A brave fight back ultimately came up just short for the Rams as they exited the FA Trophy on penalties at Leatherhead on Saturday.
They had found themselves two goals down with less than ten minutes to go, but Solomon Ogunwomoju and Billy Munday dramatically restored parity before losing the shootout 6-5.
The Tanners started the game the brighter of the two teams, and had two half chances before taking the lead just before the quarter hour. On loan Woking striker Tom Dryer picked the ball up in midfield, and he drove forward before curling a beauty past Jonny Henly from 20 yards.
Jacob Bland sliced a shot wide of goal as the away side looked to respond, before Rowan Liburd flicked a header wide of goal from Alfie Paxman’s cross.
The excellent Henry Lukombo had a nervy moment on 33 minutes after he under hit a back pass, but Henly did well to deny Dryer before the Rams defender was able to clear. Up the other end, Munday put a header from a corner wide before Paxman forced Sonny Wheeler into a flying save from a curling left-footed shot.
The Rams had ended the first half in the ascendancy, and they continued to keep the pressure on Leatherhead without creating too many clear cut openings early in the half.
Sub Ogumwomoju couldn’t connect with Munday’s cross on 70 minutes, and Leatherhead made the away side pay as they went straight up the other end and doubled their lead. Marcel Barrington cut back inside from the left side of the box, and his low drive beat Henly to make it 2-0.
Many teams would’ve buckled at this stage, but the Rams are made of stern stuff under Ady Pennock this season. With nine minutes left Ogunwomoju bundled home Paxman’s cross at the back post, before having a goal harshly ruled out for a push moments later.
Munday’s towering header in the first minute of stoppage time brought the Rams level. It was a superb comeback which epitomised the determination and never say die attitude of this team.
Sadly, the lottery of the penalty shootout went against the Rams despite Henly’s heroics in saving three of the hosts’ spot kicks.
Carshalton Athletic are the visitors to Southwood for Ramsgate’s next game, which is this coming Saturday 3rd October. Kick off is at 3pm.
Ramsgate: Henly, James (Ampadu), Winfield, Lukombo, Clifford, Gurung, Bland, Munday, Jones (Ogunwomoju), Paxman, Liburd.
Subs: Cotton, Adams, Lewis.
Star man: Henry Lukombo.
Photo by Dan Whitehead
Leave a Reply