Several hundred away supporters saw Ramsgate and Burgess Hill Town play out an attritional, yet entertaining 0-0 draw to extend the Rams’ unbeaten run to twelve games. One change was made to the side that battled back to beat East Grinstead Town last time out, with Jefferson Aibangbee coming into the team for Josh Ajayi in the right wing position.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts in the seventh minute, after Brannon O’Neill slid a pass through for Chris Whelpdale in the left channel. His shot was directed well towards the near post but Tom Hadler was up to the task and pushed the ball wide of goal. Aibangbee was then just unable to get a shot away inside the box after good work by TJ Jadama two minutes later.
On fifteen minutes, the Hill created another opportunity after good work from O’Neill down the right resulted in a cross that was headed straight into Hadler’s hands by Martin Box. It was proving to be a very even game, and the Rams went close five minutes later following a corner that caused havoc in the box. Joe Ellul’s goal bound header was blocked and Joe Taylor just couldn’t force the rebound in from the left angle of the six yard box.
Billy Munday was the next player to go close in 26th minute after Alfie Paxman whipped a ball in from the left. Taylor cushioned the ball back to Munday, who shot towards goal but Hill keeper Slav Huk saved well low to his right. The best chance of the half came four minutes later as the Rams broke following a Hill corner. Munday superbly found Aibangbee, who took a touch before beating down on goal, only to have his shot well saved by Huk after he had rushed quickly out of his goal. Tom Clifford was on hand to superbly block a shot from Reggie Ward just before the interval, but 0-0 is how it remained.
The key moment of the game occurred five minutes into the second half after a driving run by Jadama was unceremoniously halted by Hill’s Hamish Morrison. Referee Josh Langley-Fineing had little option but to award the Rams a penalty, and top scorer Taylor stepped up to take it. Huk guessed the right way though, and he made a great save low to his right to keep the score goalless.
Huk saved again from Taylor three minutes later following good work by Aibangbee before the game began to bog down somewhat, with the heavy pitch taking its toll on both sets of players. Ward flashed a shot across the face of goal from the left side of the penalty box for Hill on 72 minutes, before Box made a surging run to the byline late on before his cutback trickled behind everybody and was cleared.
Lewis Gard was shown a second yellow card deep into stoppage time, which was deemed as being for dissent, but the game finished goalless as both sides cancelled each other out in the end. The Rams are next in action this coming Tuesday with a trip to Merstham. Kickoff is at 7:45.
Ramsgate: Hadler, Deacon, Ellul (Barnes), Leader, Clifford, Gard, Munday, Jadama, Aibangbee (Bioletti), Paxman, Taylor. Subs: Garrett, Ajayi, Newcombe.
Star man: Jay Leader.
