Debut Delights

Debut first-half goals from Luke Carey and Josh Ajayi and a man of the match performance from new goalkeeper Jacob Russel saw Ramsgate pick up their second win of the season and first clean sheet, with Ashley Miller scoring after the break to seal a 3-0 win.

Russel’s debut nearly got off to the worst possible start when he miss hit a clearance that awarded the hosts golden opportunity. The young Palace goalkeeper made amends by spreading his body to deny Pat Harding and keep the score goalless.

The Rams nearly took the lead in the fifteenth minute when a slaloming run from Ajayi sore him beat four men only to be denied by Hillians’ stopper Alfie Jones, who saved well with his legs.

As the rain got more frantic so did the match with both sides playing attacking football and looking to take the game to their opponents. Russel was called in to action again following another defensive slip, with Jake McIntyre ceding possession. Alex Laing this time denied whilst one on one.

Russel again kept the scores level when the ball fell to the hosts following a penalty box scramble and a very speculative penalty appeal for handball.

Matt Longhurst’s men appeared to be roused by Russel’s brilliance and lifted their performance and started to apply pressure of their own, forcing a couple of corners following clever linkup play from the front four of Tom Chapman, Miller, Carey and Ajayi.

It was in the 34th minute when the deadlock was broken. Miller showed great strength to bring to the ball down on the halfway line under pressure from Hill defender Nathan Cooper. Miller turned and played a delightful diagonal through ball into the path of Carey who showed sublime composure to round Jones and slide the ball into net, out of reach of the two covering defenders.

Scorer turned provider three minutes later when Ajayi doubled The Rams’ advantage. A perfectly weighted slide rule pass from Carey allowed Ajayi to round Cooper in the same fashion as Carey had done moments before. With three covering defenders there was still work to do. Ajayi cut back on to his right foot and smashed the ball home.

The Rams started the second half as they finished the first. A blistering run from Chapman and a good pass into Carey nearly saw a third scored. Only last ditch defending from Louie Downey to intercept the former Charlton youngsters shot kept the score at 2-0.

The wait for the third was short lived. Another fantastic run from Chapman and a low cross through the corridor of uncertainty gave Miller a tap in from four yards to give the forward his first goal of the season, on 57 minutes.

Ajayi, who signed on Friday, continued to light up the match with fantastic runs and quality link up play. Ben Wilson was unlucky not to benefit in the 68th minute when Ajayi played in the overlapping fullback.

Sobechi Nwaokolo, who replaced Ashley Miller, nearly got his first goal soon after his introduction when he escaped down the left. The Dover Academy man appeared to be shoved in the back as he shot but the referee wasn’t interested.

The Hillians really should have netted a consolation in the final moments when Max Miller headed wide whilst unmarked in the 87th minute.

The final action was yet another stunning save from Russel. This time saving a header from point blank range to see Ramsgate record their first away clean sheet since December 2019.

The result sees The Rams move up the league table in to the top ten, ahead of neighbours Herne Bay on goals-scored, who they play Tuesday. Tickets will be available to purchase on the turnstile and also in advance: https://www.cognitoforms.com/RamsgateFC/RamsgateVsHerneBay