Arlesey will be difficult to break down, says Rams boss Jim Ward

Monday 18th October 2010

RAMSGATE boss Jim Ward has issued a rallying cry for good support for their FA Carlsberg Trophy replay against a defensively sound Arlesey Town side on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams made the 242 mile round trip on Saturday and played out a goal-less draw in Bedfordshire, and Ward, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk ahead of the First Qualifying Round replay, admitted his side didn’t have any lucky breaks.

“It was a great game to watch, end-to-end stuff, although neither keeper made many saves, there was a lot of action in the box,” reflected Ward.

“But they’re a decent side. That was their fourth clean sheet in a row so they were very difficult to break down.

“They’re certainly not a young side, they were an old side, a very experienced side.”

Ward predicted that the first game would be “a dour old game,” and said: “We never played for a goal-less draw, we had our chances. On our day Mark Lovell would have tucked he’s away and Tom Tsangarides and Warren Schulz nearly scored.

“It was a good game to be involved in but we just need the breaks. The only break we got on Saturday was when their guy missed a sitter with a diving header, but we played well Saturday. We really, really dug in. Simon Pettit got man-of-the-match and Liam Quinn wasn’t really far behind him.”

Third-placed Arlesey, unbeaten at home, have the best defensive record in the Zamaretto Division One Central, having conceded only seven goals in nine league games.

Looking forward to the Southwood Stadium replay, Ward said: “Well, you’d be told we’ve got the advantage, but sometimes when players come from a long way away it’s a bonding thing as well. They’ve got to leave at three o’clock in the afternoon, they’re all together.

“I would imagine a lot of their players have done all this thing before - they looked like they’ve been around the block - but sometimes it’s a good feeling when you leave at lunchtime, you’re off work, you do what you have to do and you get on with it, so I don’t think it’s a disadvantage of them coming here.

“On Saturday we took, they told us the gate was 96 and there were at least 40 Ramsgate supporters. Our coach was chockablock and there were cars and allsorts going up so there was 40 of us so hopefully they liked what they’ve seen - and I spoke to most of them after the game.”

Ward added: “I hope we win the game in ninety minutes and get it out of the way. That’s certainly what we’ll be trying to do.”

Ramsgate will welcome Uxbridge to Southwood Stadium in the Second Qualifying Round on 30 October if they win tomorrow night.

“They’re in the same division as Arlesey, not as high, but we can talk about that one next week perhaps,” added Ward.

“I hope we won the game in ninety minutes and get it out of the way. That’s certainly what we’ll be trying to do.”

James Gregory is struggling with a hamstring injury, but Simon Pettit (sore foot) should be fit enough, and Tsangarides, Luke Wheatley and Brett Mills should shake of bouts of flu’.

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

Ramsgate v Arlesey Town

FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round Replay

Tuesday 19th October 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT10 3QL