Ramsgate win first Thanet tussle

Monday 21st August 2006

After making a terrible mistake, that gave Margate the opening goal, Sam Baker recovered superbly with two second-half headed goals as Ramsgate’s under 18’s won their opening Kent Youth League under 18 south division clash at Southwood Stadium yesterday.

After a bad start Ramsgate were caught overplaying it at the back, with Baker making a short back pass that allowed Shane Brown to pounce and, having rounded the stranded 'keeper Mark Reilly, slot home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead they held onto until the interval.

After a few strong words from their manager and a triple-substitution at half-time, Ramsgate forced the game and within ten minutes of the restart a long throw from Curtis Robinson deflected off defender Lewis Collis and into the Margate net, levelling the score. Ramsgate never looked back and, stepping up the work-rate and quality, a great cross from Sammy Brennan was met by the head of Baker to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.

Accurate passing and movement created the Rams' 3rd goal, when a slick ball by Shannon McNamee allowed Niall McCourt to smash the ball into the goal.

The Rams continued to press while Margate desperately hung on, and eventually McCourt seemed to be pulled down in the area, although referee Saul Kay awarded a freekick from outside the area that Ramsgate were unable to convert.

Then to cap the game off with a bang, a Sammy Brennan corner was met in the air by Baker, to head home his second and Ramsgate's fourth.

With the score remaining at 4-1, Rams manager Aaron Perry told www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk : "It was always going to be difficult in a derby but we felt the longer the game went on our quality and fitness would come through, and we're delighted to win 4-1."

Ramsgate U18s are in action again next Sunday (27th August), when they travel to Salters Lane to face Faversham Town. Kick Off is 11am.