Ramsgate 2-3 Tonbridge Angels - Angels' flying at the top of the table

Robert Kember opened his account for the new season and quick striker Jon Main took his tally up to the season with six goals from four games to give Tony Dolby's side a three goal lead.

But Rams’ striker Shaun Welford scored two goals in the space of three minutes - after Ray Powell saw red after 63 minutes.

Ramsgate had the game’s first chance after ten minutes when Lee Minshull’s left-footed drive from 20-yards flashed past Aaron Kerr’s left hand but also past the foot of the right post.

Tonbridge Angels’ striker Main missed a gilt edged chance moments later when he picked up a square pass from Fraser Logan, after poor goalkeeping from Chris May, but rolled his shot agonisingly past the foot of the far post from eight yards.

The game sparked into life in the 23^rd minute when a long throw from Welford was flicked on by Lee Minshull into the path of Warren Waugh, who was denied by a fine block from former Gravesend & Northfleet goalkeeper Aaron Kerr.

But route one football from the Rams, when May’s clearance was latched onto by Welford, saw the former Dover Athletic striker blaze high and wide from sixteen yards.

But Tonbridge should have broken the deadlock when Main burst past Liam Morris down the left, put in a low cross to the far post but Ray Powell’s shot crashed against the right post.

Tonbridge did, however, breakthe deadlock in the 37^th minute when midfielder Robert Kember, a summer signing from Crawley Town, scored his first goal of the season.

Luke Piscina burst down the middle before being stopped just outside the box, but Kember was on hand to strike a right-footed drive from 22-yards, which flew past May and into the top right hand corner.

SCREAMER:  Ramsgate goalkeeper Chris May is beaten by Robert Kember's right-footed 22-yard drive, which gave Tonbridge Angels' the lead.
Pic: David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk


A howler from Ramsgate goalkeeper on the stroke of half time gifted Main the game’s second goal of the game.

May passed the ball to the Angels’ striker, who rolled a shot inside the foot of the near post from 30-yards.

Torrential rain met the Angels’ third goal just six minutes into the second half.

Logan played a low pass for Main, who cut inside substitute James Gregory, to stroke the ball into the back of the net to score his sixth goal of the season.

Kerr pulled off a fine save on the hour mark when he dived to his left to deny Minshull’s header, following their third corner of the game, which was taken by Michael Yianni.

Tonbridge were, however, reduced to ten-men in the 63^rd minute when Powell was shown a straight red card.

Latching onto Logan’s through ball, the former Fisher Athletic striker showed his studs as May smothered the ball at his feet, but May was able to continue after treatment.

Welford broke his deadlock for the season, with a thunderous volley, which crashed into the top far corner from 12-yards with twenty minutes remaining.

And Welford found the bottom left hand corner from the penalty spot three minutes later after John Beales tripped Stuart Vahid inside the box to make it a dramatic finish.



GOAL:  Ramsgate striker Shaun Welford (not in photo) nets his second goal of the game from the penalty spot with seventeen minutes remaining.
Pic:  David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk