Cray Wanderers 1-2 Ramsgate - Bremner is staying put, insists Jenkins

CRAY WANDERERS 1-2 RAMSGATE
Kent Senior Cup First Round
Tuesday 11^th November 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

JIM WARD was pleased that he “got one over” his opposite number Ian Jenkins, as his Ramsgate side knocked out last season’s Kent Senior Cup finalists at the first stage of this season’s competition.

After Cray missed an early penalty, Steffan Ball, playing out wide, opened the scoring after just ten minutes to put Ramsgate in the box seat.

But Leigh Bremner, who returned to Cray Wanderers last night from Ryman Premier League side Carshalton Athletic, levelled in the 53^rd minute, but former Bromley striker, Jay May glanced home the winner - his sixth goal for the Rams - with 21 minutes of this low-key first round tie remaining.

Ramsgate were the first side to book their place in the last eight of this season’s competition and Welling United later joined them, as they needed extra time to knock out Sittingbourne, winning 3-2 at Park View Road.

Cray boss Jenkins made a total number of nine changes to his side that started Saturday’s defeat, which resulted in a flattering 4-0 win for Fleet Town here at Hayes Lane.

Full-time side Ebbsfleet United had defeated the Wands by the same scoreline to lift the Kent Senior Cup in late July.

Central defender, Michael Munday and Colin Luckett reclaimed their shirts, and Jenkins admitted afterwards that he was pleased with Munday, Jamel McCann and Scott Manzi’s performance - three players that have recently taken their chances, following promotion from the reserve side.

But Luckett wasted an excellent chance to give the hosts a seventh minute lead from the penalty spot.

Scott Kinch, playing up front, exchanged a slick one-two with his strike partner Bremner, and as he tried to poke his shot towards goal he was upended by Dan Tanner.

Jack Delo, who came in to replace Danny Twyman in goal tonight, dived to his left to beat out Luckett’s left-footed penalty.

Cray Wanderers, meanwhile, were made to pay for that miss as Ramsgate opened the scoring just 197 seconds later.

Left-back, Grant Duff, delivered a free-kick from right in front of the home dug-out into the Cray Wanderers’ penalty area and this was flicked across the penalty area by May and the ball fell nicely for Ball to stab the ball past Jack Bradshaw from six-yards.

Ramsgate made four changes to the side that were thumped 5-1 at home to Hendon at the weekend, as Danny Twyman, Jake Eastwood, Ben Laslett and Warren Schulz were all dropped to the bench.

After Ball netted his fifth goal of the season, both sides were hitting too many over hit balls that rolled harmlessly to the opposing goalkeepers.

But the game sparked into life after 22 minutes when Bremner did well to shrug off a couple of challenges down the left-hand side before cutting the ball back to the unmarked Jamie Wood.

This resulted in the central midfielder unleashing a left-footed drive from 30-yards, which bounced once in front of Delo, but the former Herne Bay goalkeeper turned the shot around his post, diving low to his left.

Delo then made his third smart save as he blocked Kinch’s effort following Mark Hammond’s corner from the left.

Luckett joined in an attack to float a 37^th minute cross into the penalty area, which was brought under control by Kinch’s chest, before the former Tonbridge Angels central midfield rock, cracked an over-head kick, which bounced wide.

Ramsgate’s right-back Danny Walder then stroked a 30-yard shot into Bradshaw’s grateful arms after he found space in the middle of the park.

Wood’s second long range left-footed drive from 35-yards, was comfortably saved by Delo, as the ball bounced into his arms.

But Cray Wanderers levelled as Bremner scored with his first chance - after 53 minutes.

The ball was played forward from a crowded midfield area and Bremner, who scored 13 goals for Folkestone Invicta last season, picked up the ball, just left of centre.

The striker cut in and once two yards inside the Ramsgate penalty area, drilled a right-footed shot past Delo.

Despite the equaliser, nothing much else happened in the game, before the winning goal on 69 minutes.

Ramsgate were awarded a free-kick a couple of yards outside the penalty area, on the left hand side.

Ball whipped in a right-footed free-kick, which arrowed towards the near post and this was glanced past second-choice goalkeeper Jack Bradshaw at his near post, by May’s deft header.

Cray Wanderers then wasted opportunities to take this game into extra time.

Winger Tyrone Sterling, who came off the bench with Morris at the break, wasted a couple, and McCann rolled a drilled 25-yard right-footed effort harmlessly wide of the far post.

Rival managers during both club’s Kent League days, Ward, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  in the boardroom afterwards, was pleased to book his side’s place in the last eight.

“It was a good game,” he said. “Me and Jenko go back years and obviously we’re in different divisions now and he’s doing well in his league and we’re not doing very well in ours, so it’s nice to get one over on him.

“At the end of the day it’s the County Cup. He’s played a lot of lads’ that are fringe players as we did.”

It’s good to be a travelling Ramsgate supporter this season as the club have won league and cup games at Harrow, Wealdstone, Tonbridge and Hitchin, without actually winning any league games on home soil.

The poor home form is puzzling everybody at the club, especially as Southwood Stadium is famous for being a fortress.

“Very difficult some of the places we’ve gone to and won so we’re not a bad side,” insisted Ward.

“The home thing will take care of itself (and) sooner or later someone will get a tanking at home!”

Ward who guided the club to Ryman League Cup glory last season, wants to enjoy more Cup success this term.

“I want to stay in as many things as possible until after Christmas,” he said. “Same old adage all the time.”

But he added: “I’d rather have three points (away to Harlow Town) on Saturday than win tonight that’s for sure.”

Jenkins, meanwhile, was bitterly disappointed with tonight’s first round exit - in front of their lowest crowd of the season - especially after reaching last season’s final.

“Yes, disappointed mate because the best side on the night has lost,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk inside the players’ tunnel.

“We passed it around quite well, played the best football I thought, although we didn’t create too many chances, but the chances we did create was through playing decent football.

“Disappointed with the result but not the performance.”

Jenkins believes Bremner will continue where he left off, after getting on the score sheet in his first game back for the club.

And the long-serving boss insists Bremner’s stay at Hayes Lane is longer than a month.

“We’ve signed a big player there. He’s going to be great for us. He doesn’t stop working, he’s going to chase a lot of defences down” said Jenkins.

“He isn’t here for a month. He’s signed for us for the rest of the season. I don’t think Carshalton will have him back.

“If he’s here for a month then he’s going somewhere else. He won’t be going back to Carshalton. I’ve spoken to Hayden (Bird) today, he’s definitely with us.

“If he’s doing well he won’t be leaving to go anywhere else, if we’re doing well and we’re up there so why should he move?”

Cray Wanderers: Jack Bradshaw, Aaron Day (Tommy Whitnell 85), Colin Luckett, Jamel McCann, Mark Willy, Michael Munday, Mark Hammond (Dean Morris 45), Scott Manzi, Scott Kinch, Leigh Bremner, Jamie Wood (Tyrone Sterling 45).
Subs: Tony Dolby, Steve Aris.

Goal: Leigh Bremner 53

Booked: Scott Kinch 57, Jamel McCann 61, Leigh Bremner 77

Ramsgate: Jack Delo, Danny Walder, Grant Duff, Nick Davis, Dan Tanner, Ryan Royston (Warren Schulz 63), Simon Pettit (Dane Sutton 63), Andy Hadden (Ben Laslett 45) Jay May, Steffan Ball, Byron Walker.
Subs: Jake Eastwood, Danny Twyman

Goals: Steffan Ball 10, Jay May 69

Booked: Dan Tanner 83

Attendance: 73
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup)
Assistants: Mr Graeme Wiltshire-Ions (Maidstone) & Mr Craig Wood (Gravesend)