Don't underestimate us, Rams warn Premier League rivals - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

This time two years ago Ramsgate were preparing for their Kent League opener at Sporting Bengal United. But this time Jim Ward’s side are facing life in the Ryman Premier League, writes Stephen McCartney.

A trip into east London to be physically mulled by the Tigers isn’t what managers in Kent League football relish, against a side that tend to kick people more than kick balls into the net.

But after winning the Kent League and Ryman League Division One championships in two successive seasons, everyone at Southwood Stadium is relishing life in their new league.

Their opening game is against Heybridge Swifts on 12^th August before they lock horns with AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday 22^nd August.

League games against Bromley (away), Tonbridge Angels (home), Horsham (away), Billericay Town (home) East Thurrock United (home), Chelmsford City (away), and Hendon await the Rams in the opening two months of the season.

But playing against five clubs with huge budgets early on doesn’t concern the Rams. In fact the message from the club is “bring it on!”.

With manager Jim Ward returning from his two-week holiday later this evening, his assistant, and brother Danny, revealed the club’s aims in their new league.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk he said: “We’re top six! I’ve never been bottom of the league all my life and don’t intend to be bottom of the league next year.”

Having spoken to Jim Ward this time last year, he insisted he’ll be aiming for the top six. As we all know the Rams went onto win the league, on goal-difference with Horsham as runners-up.

“If you underestimate us we’ll catch you out!” warned Danny Ward. “We’ve got some good matches this season.

“We said exactly the same thing last year. We don’t know how it’s going to go and we haven’t made too many changes. We’ve signed two players at the moment, we’re still looking for players, it will be the nucleus of the same squad.”

The Rams’ have signed striker Warren Waugh (from Leatherhead) and defender Ryan Bernard (Cheshunt), both based north of London.

Danny Ward added: “We had the best team in the league last year and I mean team. We’re not individuals, we play as a team and that hold’s us in good stead and we can’t wait for it to start to be honest with you.

“We’ll be ready for the 19^th August and all set to go. If teams aren’t fit or organised against us they’ll get found out but we’re aiming for top six and we’ll see how far it takes us.

“We aimed for top six last year and won it. Hopefully we’ll do the same again this year.”

Ramsgate, have, however, played three pre-season games and a rare thing happened yesterday afternoon - a defeat.

Sittingbourne trialist Dan Bonneywell stunned Ramsgate by scoring the only goal of the game with just three minutes remaining.

But the Rams were guilty of missing a hatful of chances - but Danny Ward insists they’ll be finding the target when the games mean more.

He said: “I think the first half was a good performance, should have been three or four goals up probably on good chances and as people normally say, goals win games and make things more comfortable.

“The good thing is, even though we didn’t score, we must have made six to eight good chances. On other days they go in and it’s a different match.”

He added: “We still made chances but as normal you dominate a match and the team gives you a sucker punch in the last minute.”

But he asks fans not to be too despondent, having scored only twice in their opening three warm-up matches.

Chatham Town were beaten by two goals to one the previous Saturday.

“I know we’re not scoring many but we’re making plenty of chances,” he said.

“We can’t wait for the start to be honest with you. Get these games out of the way, get the lads fit.

“Nothing’s at full pelt because we’re waiting to get at the proper teams. I think the matches we’re played upto now there hasn’t been a tackle in a match yet.

“That’s not how we play. We play high tempo, work on people’s touches and we’re not at that stage yet.”

Danny Ward revealed their trialists will get another chance to impress when former Kent League rivals Deal Town visit Southwood Stadium on Tuesday night.

He said: “We’ve got a couple of trialists on show and they’ve done allright. It will be good to have another look at them. Some will be playing for the reserves on Tuesday or the first team.”

Danny Ward admitted he was disappointed with League One club Gillingham regarding their team selection for the friendly at Southwood Stadium on Thursday night, which ended goal-less.

He said: “We had Gillingham on Thursday night, we were all set to play against what we thought was going to be a Gillingham fringe team with a sprinkling of first team players and we basically had one first team player we played against and the rest were youth.

“I think it deflated us more than we quite imagined. The players were up for it, but in the end we were playing a young side.

“We did allright but we still didn’t play against a team that we thought we were playing against, which is a pity.”