Jerald Aboagye mirrored Saturday’s exploits with another crucial strike as two second half goals saw Ramsgate come from behind to beat Hythe Town at Southwood of a Bank Holiday crowd of 675.
The Rams deservedly fell behind after 30 minutes when Johan Caney-Bryan forced the ball home from close range. Aboagye chased in Ben Fitchett’s long range effort to level in the 67th minute before Ashley Miller grabbed the winner five minutes later.
Steve Lovell had to field a team with eight first-teamers absent and named a substitutes bench containing three players from Ramsgate U18s and it showed as The Cannons bossed the midfield and were well on top in the first half.
Ethan Smith, who was released by Gillingham in the summer, was the first to test Josh Bexon after just four minutes but the stopper stood firm.
Making his home debut, Lucas Atkins had the first chance for Ramsgate on ten minutes. Hythe goalkeeper Aaron Lee-Wharton parried Atkins effort before denying Josh Ajayi moments later.
Shad Ngandu had a golden chance to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Ngandu latched on to a through ball but lost his footing when he looked certain to slot home.
Leon Redwood got in behind the Hythe defence on 24th minutes but his powerful effort was fired in to the side netting in what was Ramsgate’s best chance before falling behind.
The goal came on half-hour when Sam Itauma put a dangerous ball across the box which was met at the near post by Caney-Bryan and gave Steve Watt’s side a deserved lead. A lead that was almost doubled straight from the restart when sloppy play saw Caney-Bryan gather tha ball before being thwarted by Jamahl Howlett-Mundle.
Out of nowhere Ramsgate nearly levelled in the 34th minute when Ashley Miller got his head on a brilliant cross by Aboagye but the header thundered off the crossbar with goalkeeper Lee-Wharton beaten.
Lex Allen had the last chance of the game and converted from close-range following a deep cross only to be adjudged to have been in an offside position.
Half-time saw Steve Lovell revert to his favoured formation and the introduction of TJ Jadama, who missed Saturday’s win over Hayward’s Heath with injury, replacing Denzelle Olopade. The switch had an instant impact and The Rams started to play with fluidity and a real sense of urgency.
It was TJ who created the first opening. The 23-year-old forced his way towards the byline before crossing to Atkins, whose effort was saved. Moments later Theo Osinfolarin bent a powerful free kick which was saved down to Lee-Wharton’s left.
Apart from a wasted header from six yards in the 59th minute, Ramsgate were really turning up the pressure on Hythe and it was no surprise when the equaliser came. Fitchett thundered an effort in from just outside the box and Aboagye chased in to fire home the rebound in the 67th minute.
The goal instilled even more belief into the hosts and five minutes later they had the lead through Miller. A slaloming run by Ajayi saw him selflessly roll the ball across goal for Miller to pass in to the empty net from close-range.
The long throw of Jack Steventon was a continual weapon deployed by The Cannons through the game and it nearly paid dividends in the 79th minute. The experienced Frannie Collin will have expected better of himself when volleying over from close range.
The chance was to be the only real attempt for Hythe as they tried to get back in to the match and the game changing TJ Jadama nearly got his own name on the scoresheet moments later when he outleaped Liam Smith but his header ballooned back off the cross bar.
The three points sees Ramsgate remain a point off leaders Beckenham going in to a break of 19 days without a league fixture, with the next match being at Littlehampton in The FA Trophy. The Rams will hope to have a full complement of players to choose from when they host Lancing on September 17th at WW Martin Community Stadium.
