Ramsgate 2-0 Margate - Goals were better than Premier League, hails Ward

Ball’s sensational 35-yard drive; May’s 30-yard wonder dipping volley (both goal of the season contenders) guaranteed the victory, but as Margate boss Terry Yorarth admitted afterwards, “I really am disappointed with some of my players performances. It was my first Thanet derby as it was theirs and I really don’t think that they really appreciated it as much as they should have.

“We knew how Ramsgate were going to play but to lose conceding goals like that is really something you can’t plan against.”

Naturally enough Yorath’s opposite number was full of Christmas cheer.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Jim Ward, was a happy man and paid special tribute to his debut making goalkeeper Jamie Turner, who is on loan from Blue Square South outfit Welling United.

He said: “He's the best keeper in Kent and really is what we have been missing.”

When asked about the two winning goals, Ward smiled and remarked, “I watched the football on TV yesterday and didn’t see anything that came anywhere near either of them.”

The Rams sealed victory courtesy of Ball and May’s wonder goals, but in fairness the home side perhaps should have won by more.

Early on Rams skipper Warren Schulz went close with two headers. The first, when a corner wasn’t cleared, was bundled off the line by Liam Harwood, whilst the second, created brilliantly by an inter-change between May and Ball down the left, flashed narrowly wide of Pat Mullin’s right-hand post.

Ben Brown then lashed a drive high over the bar as a long throw wasn’t dealt with as Ramsgate tuned up the heat.

But no-one, however, could have predicted the opening goal on 24 minutes.

Ball cut in from the left and released a pile driver which flew into the top left hand corner of the net.  A goal which Turner described, from the other end of the pitch, as “a shot that would have needed at least five of us (goalkeepers) to get anywhere near.”

Despite kicking with a strong wind at their backs in the first half Margate were unable to captalise and so went into the break a goal down.

The second half began with both sides extremely tentative as the second goal was now crucial.
But when it came it was one to truly savour.

Substitute Andy Hadden did well on the right wing and was able to pull the ball back square to May who, as the ball bounced in front of him, hit a 30-yard dipping volley over the stranded Mullin.

Try as they might, and not even three substitutions helped, the visitors were extremely poor and only had Jackson Ohakam and his mis-hit shot just after the break to really smile about.

This defeat came especially hard for Margate football secretary Ken Tomlinson who is today celebrating his 70^th birthday. What a present - and underperformance against your fiercest local rivals.

Ramsgate finish 2008 with another derby on Tuesday when they welcome Dartford to Southwood Stadium.

Victory will see the red side of Thanet go above Margate, whose next fixture is an “easy one” - champions elect Dover Athletic at Hartsdown Park next Saturday.

Things certainly don’t get any easier for Yorath and his besieged players.

Ramsgate: Jamie Turner, Danny Walder, Tom Wynter, Nick Davis, Ben Laslett, Ryan Royston, Ben Brown (Andy Hadden 62), Warren Schulz, Jay May, Steffan Ball, Simon Pettit.
Subs: Jake Eastwood, Dan Tanner, Tom Tsangarides, Seb Schoburgh.

Goals: Steffan Ball 24, Jay May 69

Margate: Pat Mullin, Kieran Morris, James Gregory, Liam Harwood, Dan Young, Jackson Ohakam, Ryan Peters (Danny Stubbs 65), Wayne Wilson, Mo Takaloo (Reggie Savage 71), Richard Shittu, Aaron Quain (Soloman Adesidye 59).
Subs: Roberto Corbishley, Mark Beresford.

Booked: Wayne Wilson 14, Danny Stubbs 83

Attendance: 1,082
Referee: Mr Constantine Hatzidakis (Northfleet)
Assistants: Mr Neil Baker (Welling) & Mr Tim Burman (Welling)