Brickies and Rams continue good early form

Heavy traffic in SW London delayed Ramsgate's arrival at Kingston; luckily they were travelling in the luxury of a team coach provided by sponsors Airport Connections, but the somewhat hurried pre-match preparations were not evident as both teams started at pace with great end-to-end football and both goals under attack.

The first real chance fell to the Dons in the 10^th minute when the ever-busy Richard Butler let fly with a cracking shot from the edge of the area but, whilst taking a deflection on the way, it was well held by Chris May in the Rams’ goal. Six minutes later and a freekick awarded for an innocuous looking tackle by Warren Schulz, found Butler in the area 1-on-1 with May, but the ‘keeper ensured Butler’s shot went over the crossbar. The resulting corner saw the ball deep into the box, but the header towards goal was caught comfortably by May. In the 25^th minute a freekick by Ollie Schulz 30 yards out found Shaun Welford on the edge of the box, but the striker’s header grazed the bar having beaten ‘keeper Andy Little. A minute later and the Rams came close again, when Stuart Vahid put the ball through to Michael Yianni just outside the area, the midfielder making enough space for himself to put the ball past Little, but also just wide of the post. Wimbledon countered, with Wes Daly proving very effective on the right flank, and the ball again reaching Butler, although the Rams’ defence held firm.

On the half hour came a tactical change by manager Jim Ward, with Simon Pettit replacing Shane Suter. Four minutes later and a great run by right back Steve Wales saw him outpace Mark Munday before crossing to Byron Bubb, who was caught and robbed by Yianni, although Wales regained possession and crossed with the ball whistling past the far post. The midfield battle continued, with occasional forays into each area, until the 44^th minute when Edd Vahid intercepted a forward ball by the Dons which he put through to his older brother Stuart near the edge of the area, but he was brought down from behind by Antony Howard as he turned and ran forward – Yianni driving the resulting freekick into the wall. A final attack in injury time saw Butler streaking into the Rams’ area shadowed by defender Will Graham, the ball flying up from Butler and appearing to hit Graham’s arm, but the referee waved play on, to the howls (and more) of the home fans.

After the restart the Rams seemed more resolute, and within two minutes a cross by Pettit looked likely to find Yianni clear in the area, but ‘keeper Little just got there first. A minute later and another run from Pettit, through the middle of the park, seemed sure to set up Welford, but the cross fell just behind the striker. AFC responded and Butler put the ball to Roscoe D’Sane, who beat Graham but couldn’t beat May. A few minutes later and Butler managed to get another shot off despite Graham’s efforts, but May got down low to push it out for a corner. In the 54^th minute an AFC long throw was intercepted by Pettit, who put it through to Welford who went on a 25 yard run through the middle, passing three players before his charge was blocked near the edge of the area, the rebound collected by Ollie Schulz until a sliding challenge by Bubb dispossessed him, leaving the Ramsgate centre half with a bruised and swollen ankle. A few minutes later, with Dean Hill on the deck in the AFC half after being dispossessed with a crunching tackle, the referee allowed the home side to play on, with a run by Wales ending up with a long ball forward, but this was no problem for May. Just after the hour Hill found himself on the deck again after a neat 1-2 with Yianni saw the wing back reach the edge of the area before being brought down by Daly.

In the 65^th minute James Gregory took over from Stuart Vahid, whilst a minute later Jim Ward made his final change with the injured Ollie Schulz being replaced by Liam Morris. Six minutes later Yianni conceded a freekick on the edge of the Rams’ area, but the free kick was blazed high over the bar. A minute later, at the AFC end, a long throw by Pettit reached Welford in the box, but the ‘keeper punched clear as far as Graham, whose shot went wide. In the 75^th minute Hill put the ball through to Welford on the left flank, who outpaced the defender into the area, but his shot from the steep angle found the side netting at the near post. Two minutes later and a throw from Mark Munday released Pettit down the left wing, only to be brought down by Daly just outside the area, but Yianni’s freekick was cleared by Wales. With 11 minutes remaining manager Anderson made his first change, with Luke Garrard replacing Mark Rooney. The Rams continued to press however, and in the 80^th minute Pettit floated a ball through to Gregory, whose header called for a fine save by Little. A minute later and Warren Schulz tried a volley on the turn from 30 yards out, but the shot was wide. In the 82^nd minute a further substitution for the Dons with Butler making way for Darren Grieves. A minute later and Welford burst through on goal past two AFC defenders, but the ‘keeper saved at point blank range. With three minutes left another run through midfield by Pettit, but his shot from 30 yards was dealt with by Little. In the 89^th minute Gregory was brought down 40 yards out, but the free kick went just over Welford and the ‘keeper at the far post. Into injury time and Welford was still chasing through into the Dons’ area, and in the closing seconds collided with Little, the ‘keeper apparently coming off worse but had again thwarted the Rams’ striker.