Ahead of Rams' crunch game with Horsham Ward says: The spirit is fantastic! - EXCLUSIVE

SIX Ramsgate players turned up to train with the reserves last night - despite being given the night off by boss Jim Ward, writes Stephen McCartney.

Eager stars Andy Hadden, Dan Tanner, Dan Dolton, Shaun Allison, Stuart King and Ollie Schulz all turned up to train with the second string ahead of their crunch game against Horsham at Southwood Stadium.

The two sides, eighth and ninth respectively in the Ryman Premier League on 59 points, are just 2 points adrift of fifth placed side Tonbridge Angels, with just three games to go.

Former Hornets number two, Tommy Warrilow, has worked his magic at Longmead Stadium to guide the Angels from the brink of relegation to the brink of play-off glory.

The Angels thumped Hendon 4-0 at home in midweek to jump four places into the final play-off berth but Ward, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their crunch game with Horsham, isn’t too worried.

“It suited me because Tonbridge have got to win three games,” said the Scot. “We’ve got three games left and we have to win all three and they have to lose one. Simple as that!”

Ward will be without FIVE players for tomorrow’s showdown with Lee Minshull; Stuart Vahid and Steve Martin all out serving two-match bans; Ollie Schulz has a broken toe and Dean Hill nurses a hamstring strain.

However, Lenny Piper; Aaron Firth and Stuart King all come into the reckoning.

Ward said: “We’re short but never say never. Horsham will have the same problems, they’ll have people missing.

“It’s a massive game isn’t it?” added Ward. “We're looking forward to it.”

The Rams claimed the Ryman League Cup for the very first time in their history earlier this month, having defeated AFC Sudbury on penalties at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium.

And Ward said: “If you asked me at the start of the season Stephen if I won my last three games and had a chance of nicking fifth spot and win a Cup final, without a doubt I’ll be snapping your hand off!

“We find ourselves in this position, let’s go and enjoy it.”

Ward was surprised that six of his first team stars turned up to train for the reserve side last night.

“We had a fun session on Tuesday,” he revealed. “We just had shooting and crossing practice and set pieces and I have them Thursday night off to rest and half of them still turned up!

“The reserves trained Thursday, if they wanted to train with the reserves they’re welcome to it - it’s great! The spirit is fantastic.”

“They just came up and messed around for an hour. It’s the spirit of the club Stephen, that’s what it is. Half of their mates are in the reserves so they came out for them.”

Everyone knows that Horsham are one of the slick passing teams in the division and Ward says fans should flock to Southwood Stadium to watch this mouth-watering clash.

“They’re a good side, they don’t get to the second round proper of the FA Cup without being a decent side.,” said Ward.

“We’ve given away vouchers at the (Easter Monday home game against) Margate for discounted vouchers so we’re hoping for a decent crowd.

“We took three to four hundred for the Cup final so let’s hope they turn up and at the Margate game there were 900 Ramsgate fans - 500 (against Horsham) would be great.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match.

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Ramsgate v Horsham
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 12^th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN