Ramsgate 3-2 Horsham - Rams keep up with the Jonesey's

Sam Jones, 20, who made his debut for the club against Carshalton Athletic on the first day of March, netted a brace during his man-of-the-match display as the Thanet side disposed of play-off challengers Horsham, who drop down a place to tenth.

Ramsgate went into this showdown in eighth place in the Ryman Premier League and had collected the same amount of points as the Hornets.

But as they won this five-goal thriller the Rams have climbed up one spot and are in a showdown with their Kentish rivals Tonbridge Angels for that final play-off berth with only two league games left to play.

The Angels, managed by former Horsham assistant Tommy Warrilow, meanwhile, held onto their current position, despite being held to a 2-2 draw away to Billericay Town - but Hendon and Ramsgate are also on 62 points.

Both Kent clubs will be hoping that Ashford Town (Middlesex) - the second worst supported club in the division - slip up as they have one game in hand on everyone else and they could well and truly sneak into the play-off’s to join AFC Wimbledon, Staines Town and AFC Hornchurch.

Ward, who was without suspended trio Lee Minshull; Stuart Vahid and Steve Martin; was also without defender Ollie Schulz, who was nursing a broken toe. Left-back, Dean Hill, meanwhile, played despite recent hamstring problems.

Horsham, expected to be homeless next season, started brightly and after cutting in from the left striker Gary Charman drilled an angled right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, which brought a comfortable save from Ramsgate’s 33-year-old stopper Paul Wilkerson.

Horsham created a second chance when a long throw into the penalty area by their blonde right-back Tom Graves was hooked on by Charman and left-sided winger Dwaine Clarke could only drill his shot agonisingly past the far post.

So it was no surprise when the west Sussex club opened the scoring - with 15 minutes and 52 seconds on the clock.

Right-sided midfielder Kevin Hemsley floated a cross into the penalty area and this was met by a diving header from Ramsgate central defender Ben Laslett from eight-yards but the ball flew into the bottom right-hand corner.

This set-back sparked the Thanet side into life and Lenny Piper, making a rare appearance up front, could only steer the ball into Alan Mansfield’s grateful arms as he brought down Dan Dolton’s cross down with his chest before failing to find the net.

But it was Jones, who plays in the top flight of the Belmonte Thanet Sunday League for champions-elect Albion Athletic, who levelled proceedings after 21 minutes.

His left-footed angled drive from the right-hand side of the penalty struck a bobble on it’s way to beat Mansfield low at his near post.

Horsham should have regained their lead but striker Jacob Mingle failed to net his 12^th goal of the season as he turned over Clarke’s low centre from just six-yards.

Horsham struck the bar off a Ramsgate head before Charman headed the rebound agonisingly past the far post.

But Ramsgate grabbed the lead after 32 minutes through another local hero, skipper Warren Schulz.

Piper and Dolton did brilliantly to combine down the left and Dolton’s cross from the by-line was met by a thumping header from Schulz, which flew into the roof of the net from six-yards. It was the skipper’s tenth goal of the season.

The goal that gave them the lead lifted the Rams and they went on to create three good chances to increase their advantage.

Andy Hadden twice drilled shots past the far post and Schulz could only steer his shot wide after a knock on by Dolton.

But Ward had to earn his money during the half-time interval as Horsham skipper Eddie French equalised later in the half.

His left-footed volley from twenty-yards looped past Wilkerson to find the top left-hand corner, which stunned the Southwood faithful.

There would have been tears had Hemsley made it three with the last kick of the half, but he could only steer his left-footed shot straight at Wilkerson.

Ramsgate went close inside the opening three minutes of the second half - before the heavens opened for a ten minute period.

Jones cut the ball back to Laslett and he whipped the ball towards the far post and Dolton powered his header agonisingly past the far post.

The downpour spoilt early parts of the second half but Ramsgate tested Mansfield after 56 minutes when he tipped over Dolton’s left-footed free-kick from thirty-yards after Jones was fouled by French.

Would there be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in the skies high above Southwood Stadium?

Clarke’s drilled left-footed free-kick from thirty-yards was turned around his left-hand post by an alert Wilkerson with 22 minutes left.

Clarke then trotted over to take the resulting corner and central midfielder Matthew Geard could only head into Wilkerson’s grateful arms.

Graves’ angled thirty-yard shot down the right was beaten out by Wilkerson at his near post but both sides knew a draw would have virtually ended their hopes of joining Chelmsford City in the Blue Square South next term.

Step forward Jones, a gem unearthed from a side that play, what, six divisions lower than Ramsgate, who netted the crucial winner with just nine minutes left.

A poor back header from Andrew Howard, following a long ball forward by Schulz, was pounced on by substitute Aaron Firth.

Firth, who scored 22 goals for Kent League side Herne Bay before his switch to Ramsgate, raced forward and coolly rolled the ball to Jones, who had supported his run, as Manfield had advanced out of his penalty area.

And Jones kept his composure to slot the ball into an empty net with his right-foot from ten-yards out.

Horsham tried in vain to net an equaliser, the closest that they came was when Mingle’s right-footed free-kick deflected past the far post.

Ward, meanwhile, was pleased that Jones took his chance in only his second start for the team and that another Thanet based player impressed on the big stage.

“I’m allowing him to play Sunday mornings,” Ward told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “He’s the only lad in the club whose allowed to play.

“I took him out of the top Sunday morning club around here and I’ve given him special dispensation to go and play Sunday mornings, so he’s got to get up in the morning and play again!

“He’s got two goals today, his first goal was a cracker from 25-yards, found the bottom corner and he’s scored one, I wasn’t too sure if he was going to tap it in from six inches or not, but fair play to the boy, he’s got two goals and deserved the man-of-the-match (award) I thought.”

Having lifted the Ryman League Cup at Dartford’s Princes Park after defeating AFC Sudbury 5-4 on penalties earlier in the month, Ward is delighted that his side are keeping the club’s play-off dream alive.

But the Dundee born boss knows his side must collect maximum points at Hastings United (away) and at home to Boreham Wood on the last day of the season to stand any chance.

“The club must be doing something right especially with a Cup Final and this play-off situation!” said Ward.

“We’re a bit thin on the ground, we’re really down to bare bones. I know Horsham were as well today but we had a few missing today, a few of the big guns.

“Big Ollie Schulz, Lee Minshull and Stuart Vahid were all missing today. They’re our automatic starters but the boys that came in are doing superb, really doing superb.

“We’ll go to Hastings next week and hopefully we’ll get another three points.”

Ward believes the last two league games will be an east versus west showdown between his club and Tonbridge Angels.

Tommy Warrilow’s Angels welcome fourth placed side AFC Hornchurch to Longmead Stadium next weekend and end their campaign with a trip to relegation threatened Carshalton Athletic on 26^th April.

“Tommy Warrilow’s my best made in football he is,” said the Rams boss. “He knows how tight its going to be.

“On paper we’ve both got very difficult games coming up. Unfortunately for Ramsgate’s point of view, Tonbridge have got a much better goal difference but I feel it’s our time of year.

“I feel we can come stronger. We’re generally very good at the end of the season.

“We’ve been to Hastings (earlier in the season), we beat them in the FA Cup, let’s hope we can go there next week and do the business again.”

Ward, who revealed last night that he gave his players Thursday night off, says his side will be put through their paces twice this week.

Hadden, Dan Tanner, Dolton, Shaun Alliston, Stuart King and Ollie Schulz, however, epitomised the spirit within the club as they still turned up for training - with the reserves.

The Rams boss said: “Me and Danny (Ward, younger brother and assistant manager) we’re going to change it again this week. We’ll have our training Tuesday and Thursday this week rather than last week where we gave them all a rest.

“We’ve just got to mix it up a bit and keep it interesting and hopefully we’ll look forward.

“There’s some good players here, some youngsters, some experience, some (with) not so much experience. They’ve come a long way these boys. These lads are different grade, they’re standing up to the task every week - I can’t ask for anymore than that!”

Ramsgate: Paul Wilkerson, Ashley Burton, Dean Hill, Nick Davis, Dan Tanner (Stuart King 75), Ben Laslett, Sam Jones (Dean Powell 82), Warren Schulz, Lenny Piper (Aaron Firth 59), Andy Hadden, Dan Dolton.
Subs: Simon Pettit, Shaun Allison.

Goals: Sam Jones 21, 81, Warren Schulz 32

Booked: Aaron Firth 71

Horsham: Alan Mansfield, Tom Graves, Dean Lovegrave (Lee Farrell 53), Eddie French, Andrew Howard, Matthew Geard, Gavin Butler, Kevin Hemsley (Danny Davis 53), Jacob Mingle, Gary Charman, Dwaine Clarke.
Subs: Simon Austin, Mark Hawthorne, Rob Frankland.

Goals: Ben Laslett (own goal) 16, Eddie French 43

Attendance: 371
Referee: Mr Phil Knight (Canterbury)
Assistants: Mr Leigh Crowhurst (Uckfield, east Sussex) & Mr Mark Huggins (Tunbridge Wells)