By Darius Sarrafan
Ramsgate gave their all but succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Margate in a hotly contested Thanet Derby in front of a bumper crowd at the WW Martin Community Stadium.
Rams manager Ben Smith made three changes from the team that beat Raynes Park Vale on Saturday, with Joe Ellul, Tom Clifford and TT Walters coming in for Myles Judd, Tom Carlse and Benny Bioletti.
The game started in frantic fashion, with both teams looking to gain a stranglehold on the game. Joe Taylor flicked a header narrowly over the bar on 14 minutes, however it was the visitors who ended up gaining the ascendancy. Louie Atkins volleyed wide before Tom Hadler was called into action to make a great save from James Bessey-Saldanha after 20 minutes.
The Rams went close shortly afterwards following a lovely passing move, after which Alfie Paxman delivered a cross on to the head of TJ Jadama, but he couldn’t get his header on target. Following this, Margate went close again with Atkins forcing Hadler into another save before Bessey-Saldhana curled just over from the resulting corner.
The Rams grew into the game more towards the end of the half, and Taylor shot wide before visiting keeper Tom Wray made a great save to deny a Lee Martin shot that Taylor had diverted towards goal, before the Rams captain’s follow up was miraculously cleared off the line. Despite plenty of chances created, it remained 0-0 at the interval.
Ramsgate started the second half in strong fashion, gaining the initiative from the off, with Walters’ surging run being unceremoniously halted by Kai Garande inside the box for a penalty. Up stepped Taylor, but Wray guessed the right way and made a superb right handed save to deny the Rams’ number nine.
The home side went even closer on 54 minutes, with Taylor’s curling shot agonisingly hitting the crossbar. Alfie Paxman’s follow up was blocked, with the visitors riding their luck in every possible way.
The hosts continued to push for that elusive opener, with Taylor having a shot deflected just wide before Wray saved well at his near post to deny sub Josh Ajayi. A contentious moment arrived in the last minute of normal time, after Jay Leader was adjudged to have fouled a Margate player following a cross in to the area. Ibrahim Olutade stepped up to send Hadler the wrong way to put the visitors into the lead.
The Rams pushed everyone forward in search of an equaliser, and it was Aaron Barnes who was adjudged to have been fouled having gone forward for a free kick to give the Rams another penalty in the second minute of injury time. Taylor stepped up again, but Wray guessed right again to make another save to deny the Ramsgate captain.
Try as they might, it just wasn’t the home side’s night – and the referee brought a halt to proceedings to seal a 1-0 win for Margate. The Rams gave everything, especially in the second half having played so well, but it wasn’t to be their night.
It has to be said though that this was an incredible night for football in Thanet, with red and blue coming together to create a special occasion under the lights.
Rams are next in action this coming Saturday, making the long trip to Brackley Town in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Ramsgate: Hadler, Barnes, Ellul, Leader, Clifford, Martin (Deacon), Gard, Jadama, Walters (Bioletti), Paxman (Ajayi), Taylor. Subs: Elito, Carlse.
Margate: Tomas Wray, Ross Craig, Tyrone Sterling (Harry Hudson 46’), Jordon Ababio, Lukas Franzen-Jones (Ibrahim Olutade 63’), Lewis Knight, Brandon Davey. Gabriel Duo (Ben Greenhalgh 64’), Louie Atkins (Harvey Brand 64’), Kai Garande, James Bessey-Saldanha.
Margate host Horsham on Saturday 28th.
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