Metropolitan Police 1 Ramsgate 0 (Sat. 29th April 2006)

Jim Ward's promise to 'pose' in the window of Possillipo's restaurant in Broadstairs if Ramsgate lost the League title was thankfully not needed - although promotion-chasing Met Police managed to defeat the Rams by a single goal at Imber Court, due in no small part of a stunning performance by their 'keeper, 2nd placed Horsham's demolition of Bashley was not enough to overturn the Rams' superior goal difference and deny them the championship, writes Arran Ayres.

The toughness of the Rams' run-in had taken it's toll in injuries however, with Steffan Ball still missing and Stuart Vahid, James Gregory and Ollie Schulz all struggling to pass pre-match fitness tests, although Schulz had to be withdrawn in the 24th minute and Gregory didn't appear to be moving comfortably at times.

The Rams were in the Met's box in the opening minute, but Michael Yianni and Stuart Vahid failed to get on the end of Shaun Welford's long throw.

Both teams were playing bright, lively, football, with the first real chance falling to the Rams when Yianni's 35-yard free kick from the wide left was given a glancing header by Dean Hill that went just outside the far post.

Three minutes later and the Met had their first foray into the Rams' area, when a ball in by centre forward Rob Haworth was headed over by Ben Abbey, but in the 10th minute the Rams were attacking again, when a foul on Yianni resulted in a free kick that Ollie Schulz swung into the area but just too high for Welford.

In the 12th minute the first free kick to the home side, when Ollie Schulz was judged to have impeded Abbey, was put through to John Daly who side-footed the ball wide, whilst 4 minutes later a speculative shot by Ian Batten from outside the area was comfortably saved by Jurgen Wild.

In the 18th minute a long throw by Welford reached Yianni in the area, who turned and volleyed but it was well held by 'keeper Stuart MacKenzie, and three minutes later Welford broke down the left and then cut inside before volleying, which MacKenzie couldn't hold on to but he managed to scramble back and retrieve the ball before it crossed the line.

As the mid-point of the half arrived some good play by the Met down the right ended with a cross by the pacy Abbey hooked in at the far post, but well cleared by Ben Laslett.

Simon Pettit replaced the struggling Ollie Schulz, and five minutes after joining the fray Pettit's long throw was flicked on by Warren Schulz to Stuart Vahid, who tried to turn the ball in with his right but it lacked pace and didn't trouble MacKenzie.

In the 33rd minute Stuart Vahid was judged to have controlled the ball with his hand, and the resultant free kick was put through to Daly who had got in behind Edd Vahid, but his header went wide of the far post.

A spell of good pressure by the Met Police followed, with a shot by Abbey in the 35th minute being well held by Wild, Daly working his way into the box and getting off a close range shot that was again saved by Wild in the 37th minute, and a minute later a driving cross-shot by Abbey called for another great save by Wild to push the ball around the post for a corner.

As the half came to a close the Rams responded and started piling on the pressure themselves. A fine corner whipped in by Gregory in the 44th minute was left by Stuart Vahid for Dean Hill, but the Rams' number 3 was expertly eased out at the far post by the body of Kori Davis.

A minute later and Yianni found Welford, whose rocket of a volley was parried up and over by MacKenzie.

The Rams started the second half as they finished the first, with two goalmouth scrambles in as many minutes as both Stuart Vahid and Yianni were thwarted by MacKenzie at the near post.

Then the Met Police scored on the counter attack, as Haworth got behind Liam Morris and shot with his right inside the area, which Wild reached with his right hand but couldn't push clear of the post.

A minute later and Haworth broke down the left flank before volleying, which Wild managed to push against the crossbar.

In the 54th minute a good cross by Edd Vahid into the danger area came to nothing as his brother Stuart and Welford both going for the ball, whilst three minutes later a 30 yard volley by Yianni was deflected up in the air off Batten, with Dean Hill being flattened by MacKenzie when the ball came back down.

The Rams began to control the midfield again as the half progressed, although on the hour mark the Met won a corner that was well taken by James Evans, but headed clear by Morris.

The Rams continued to press for an equaliser, with probing runs from Yianni, Welford and Stuart Vahid, with Dean Hill joining the attack as well.

In the 65th minute another good cross by Edd Vahid found Pettit unmarked by the far post, but his header back across the box fell behind Welford, whilst four minutes later a lob by Pettit from wide left beat MacKenzie but Hill's header went over the bar.

Mark Munday replaced Gregory in the 77th minute, and five minutes later his shot from a Stuart Vahid corner went just over the bar. The bombardment continued in the closing minutes, with a 25 yard dipping half-volley from Warren Schulz skimming the crossbar in the 85th minute, while in the 88th minute a Yianni corner was headed just over by Stuart Vahid.

As the game moved into stoppage time a rocket of a volley from 35 yards by Yianni flew through the defence, but straight at MacKenzie, whilst a minute later MacKenzie beat Welford and Stuart Vahid to yet another cross.

A further attack by the Rams in the 2nd minute of stoppage time saw a shot from Laslett go wide, followed by a Yianni free kick that Warren Schulz drove into the side netting.

The result did not stop Ramsgate becoming League champions at their first attempt.

Ramsgate Chairman Richard Lawson offers his thanks to those on and off the field who have contributed to a season that has seen all of the Club's previous records equalled.

"Another season comes to an end and what a great one for Ramsgate,” he said.

"I would like to pay tribute to Jim and Danny Ward and the boys for their magnificent achievements this year, and of course our growing army of fans who have supported us loyally both home and away.

"I would also like to personally thank all those who have helped off the pitch as well, including Ken and his army of helpers who come up regularly during the week to keep the ground clean and tidy, to John and his stewards who have coped with the extra pressures admirably, Nigel and Robert on the turnstiles, and of course Sarah and the girls for coping with the extra mouths to feed and water. Also, Jan's done a great job in her first full season with us.

"Apologies if I've missed anyone, it's not intentional but the list is (thankfully) long these days.

"I understand that this is the first back-to-back championship from the Kent League, so a big well done to everyone involved!

"Earlier in the season we were taunted as only being a pub team from Thanet - well, I think we've proven to a lot of people that we are a lot more than that, and the best is yet to come."

Ramsgate: Jurgen Wild, Edd Vahid, Dean Hill, Liam Morris, Ollie Schulz (Simon Pettit 24), Ben Laslett, Michael Yianni, Warren Schulz, Shaun Welford, James Gregory (Mark Munday 77), Stuart Vahid.
Subs: David Cory, Ian Pulman and Danny Twyman

Referee: Ms A Chapman
Assistants: Mr G Collins & Mr A McIntyre

www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to congratulate EVERYBODY at Southwood Stadium for their achievements over the past two seasons, and we look forward to covering your Ryman Premier League matches next season.