Burgess Hill 0-1 Ramsgate
Terrible weather conditions greeted us on arrival at Burgess Hill and for a while it appeared the game could be in jeopardy but the ground staff managed to get the pitch playable and the game got underway.
Rams started brightly and Jack Richards who was making his first league start of the season stung the hands of the home keeper Reid with a shot from the edge of the area.
Ramsgate then played a free kick into the area which reached Ajayi but again the keeper was equal to the effort.
Burgess Hill grew into the game and were finding gaps out wide as they looked to find a way through but resolute and sometimes last ditch defending made sure Bexon wasn’t being overly tested in the Ramsgate goal.
On 25 minutes Ramsgate worked a smart move involving Richards and Paxman and the ball ended up with Jadama who hit a powerful shot but once again Reid was there to deny the Rams.
Soon after and a big chance for Burgess Hill as they broke down the left and found themselves 1 vs 1 against Bexon. The Rams number 1 spread himself superbly at the feet of the attacker and got something on the ball but it needed a goal line clearance from Howlett-Mundle to keep the scores level.
On the half hour mark and against the run of play the Rams took the lead. The ball found Ashley Miller in a wide right position, he did brilliantly to beat his man and put in a cross to Ajayi who showed composure to square for Jadama and he made no mistake from six yards.
Burgess Hill kept pressing and had a few efforts from distance going into half time but Ramsgate went into the break leading 1-0.
Into the second half and it was all Burgess Hill who kept getting into good positions only to make the wrong decisions in the final third or to be met with a heroic block from one of the Ramsgate defenders.
Ramsgate changed shape to 4-4-2 in attempt to stop the home side being such a threat down the flanks and this worked to a certain extent as sub Osinfolarin was able to dribble a couple of times up the pitch and gain some territory back for the visitors.
The home side had their best chance of the game on 73 minutes as Duah-Kessie won the ball and played it into Skerry who hit a skidding shot but Bexon pulled off a great save.
The final 17 minutes were played out with Ramsgate defending deep and the Burgess Hill pressure was near constant but a defence well marshalled by veteran Coyle managed to see out the game and claim a vital 3 points to return to the top of the table.
Player of the Match- Jahmal Howlett-Mundle
