Ramsgate FC 1-0 Broadbridge Heath
Ramsgate saw off a spirited and lively Broadbridge Heath side 1-0 to progress to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup at a sunny WW Martin Community stadium. This extended the winning run to 9 games, which statisticians believe is the best winning run in the club’s history. The Rams made only one change from the team that thrashed Ashford United 4-0 in midweek, with Medy Elito coming in for Roarie Deacon to start in midfield.
The game began in slightly cagey fashion, with the hosts looking to maintain possession in attack, with the visitors suffocating space in midfield and breaking with pace. Benny Bioletti looked to play the Rams in from the right wing, only for the referee to bizarrely give a free kick for a Broadbridge player tripping over for no apparent reason as the home side pushed.
The visitors grew into the game, however, and forced home goalkeeper Tom Hadler to make a few fine saves. Firstly, he held a shot from Jake Lindsey before making a superb double save to deny Callum Dowdell after 25 minutes. Charlie Parmiter then saw an overhead kick sail wide of Hadler’s goal before Kyle Sim forced Hadler into another low save.
Ramsgate looked to wrestle the momentum back afterwards, with Bioletti striking the post before TJ Jadama forced opposing keeper Alfie Hadfield to make a low save soon after. Lewis Gard then clipped a lovely pass in to the path of Alfie Paxman, whose shot was hit hard but straight at Hadfield. The two teams went into the half time interval level at 0-0.
The second half became a real battle, with several bruising challenges occurring. Aaron Barnes came on for Joe Ellul before Gard succumbed to a nasty cut on the cheek, leading to Deacon coming on to replace him. Parmiter shot wide for the visitors before Bioletti dragged a shot just wide for the Rams. Jay Leader was the next to be forced from the field following another hefty challenge, being replaced by TT Walters.
It always looked like it was going to take one moment of quality to open the scoring in such an attritional affair, and it arrived after 74 minutes. The Rams won a free kick 25 yards out, and Walters stepped up to send a superb strike into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. A huge roar from the home fans greeted the goal, and it was a goal worthy of winning any game.
The Rams bravely and determinedly held on despite Broadbridge pressure, with Sim’s long throw continuously having to be dealt with by a defence missing its two main stalwarts. Barnes and Myles Judd played superbly at centre back, and the home side missed a chance to double their lead through a Jadama header that went wide before Broadbridge fired over late on.
A ninth win in a row in all competitions to start the season for the Rams – and this was undoubtedly one of the sweetest due to the manner the team dug in and did what they had to do to win. Ramsgate are next in action this coming Tuesday at home to Sevenoaks Town in the Velocity Cup this coming Tuesday 17th September, once again at the WW Martin Community Stadium.
Ramsgate: Hadler, Judd, Ellul (Barnes), Leader (Walters), Clifford, Elito, Gard (Deacon), Jadama, Bioletti, Paxman (Ajayi), Taylor. Subs: Carlse, Newcombe.
Photos by AT Photography
