Ramsgate 0-1 Wingate & Finchley - As much as it hurts, we'll bottle it and we'll store it and we'll come back stronger next year, says low Ramsgate manager Lee Martin

Ramsgate 0 – 1 Wingate & Finchley
Location	Parkside, Park Lane, Aveley, Essex RM15 4UA
Kickoff	15/04/2026 19:45

RAMSGATE  0-1  WINGATE & FINCHLEY
(after extra time)
Velocity Cup Final
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Parkside

RAMSGATE manager Lee Martin admitted to be feeling low and as much as it hurts losing the Velocity Cup Final, his side will bottle it and store it and insists they will come back stronger next season.

Ahmet Rifat’s Wingate & Finchley celebrated winning the Isthmian League Cup for the second time in their history, courtesy of an emphatic extra time strike from substitute winger Afi Adebayo, scoring his first goal of the season, which helped pick up the silverware for the first time since beating Dulwich Hamlet 2-0 back in 2011.

“I thought we were the better team,” claimed Martin, 39.

“We’ve had umpteen chances and yes I think that’s the difference.  They’ve had a couple of chances and scored one of them.

“We’ve scored a goal, a perfectly good goal. I’m not sure what the referee’ seen there. He said our captain fouled him (the goalkeeper). He’s nowhere near the goalkeeper! I thought they were poor all night to be honest with you and that’s not sour grapes – that’s facts!

“But yes, listen, we’ll roll with the punches. I’m disappointed, of course, but it’s facts that we probably should’ve been out of sight!”

Ramsgate celebrated winning the Isthmian League Cup for the only time under the legendary Jim Ward (who was in Aveley tonight), as his class of 2008 defeated AFC Sudbury 5-4 on penalties after a goal-less 120 minutes in Dartford.

Ramsgate arrived in Essex tonight sitting in tenth-place in the seventh-tier Isthmian League Premier Division table, having picked up 54 points (14 wins, 12 draws and 14 points).

The Rams defeated Ashford United (4-1), Welling United (3-2), Binfield (5-0) and Hashtag United (1-0) all at home to reach the showpiece final.

League rivals Wingate & Finchley went into the game in 15^th place – six points clear of the relegation zone – having picked up 45 points (12 wins, nine draws and 19 defeats).

Rifat’s men defeated Walthamstow (penalties after a 2-2 draw), Chesham United (4-1), Kingstonian (5-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw) and Redbridge (2-1).

It was a case of Ramsgate-upon-Aveley tonight, as there was a very large Ramsgate following in the crowd of 1,166 at Parkside.

One of them let off a red coloured flare – which is a criminal offence – seconds after referee Harry Phillips controversially chalked off a Ramsgate goal following their second of 13 corners, with seven minutes and 16 seconds on the clock.

Ramsgate’s left-wing-back, Alfie Paxman, who took all of their 13 corners, chipped his left-footed delivery in from the left towards the back post and midfielder Tijan Jadama poked the ball over the line before the whistle sounded and a foul on 29-year-old goalkeeper Charlie Grainger was the outcome.

“It’s a goal! I saw it live for the first bit, there doesn’t look like there’s any contact. We over-protect the goalkeeper’s massively,” admitted Martin.

Ramsgate started the game by playing on the front foot and Jadama’s knock down released striker Greg Cundle straight down the heart of the pitch and his left-footed drive from 20-yards was comfortably saved by Grainger.

Wingate & Finchley attacking midfielder, the nine-goal Camilo Restrepo, often dropped deep to link the play (finishing extra time as the lone striker in a resilient 5-4-1 formation) and he received a square pass from holding midfielder Sam Cornish before easily cutting inside Tom Clifford (who played on the left of a three man central defence) before stroking a left-footed angled drive from 18-yards, which was comfortably caught two-handed at head height by Bromley loanee goalkeeper Dillon Addai (12:10).

Wingate & Finchley right-back Rhamar Garrett-Douglas threw the ball in from the right and Restrepo flicked the ball over Paxman’s head before cracking his right-footed volley screaming over the top of the near-post.

However, Ramsgate were to be denied the lead thanks to a superb double save from Grainger in the 17^th minute.

The quiet Benedict Bioletti split open the two centre-halves to send emergency striker Kweku Lukan through on goal and his dink was blocked by Grainger, diving low to his right and the keeper swiftly got up and smothered Cundle’s shot, low to his left.

“Got to score! They have to score! We’ve either gone for the wrong technique, tried to go straight, flat at it, it’s a dink but listen I’m not in those moments so it’s frustrating but we’ve got to be better in front of goal, we know that,” said Martin, who was asked what was missing from his side tonight.

“Centre forward, simple as, a goalscorer!  Played some great football, put some great balls in the box, put some umpteen set-plays in.  No one’s wanting to go and score the goal and there’s no real sort of behaviours to get in the box.

“Look, it’s disappointing. The boys have done fantastic since we’ve come in. Unfortunately, we haven’t got any forwards. We’ve got Kweku (Lucan), who’s pretty much a winger by trade and Solomon Ogunwomoju’s cup-tied, so that’s where we’re at.”

When asked what kind of side Wingate & Finchley were tonight, Martin’s reply consisted of just five words.

“Tonight? A very lucky one!”

Wingate & Finchley built from the back with centre-half William Cracknell feeding Cornish, who then played the ball out to high right-back Garrett-Douglas, who then fed winger Loic Hernandez, who cut into the box before stroking his right-footed shot which bounced once before comfortably being gathered by Addai’s midriff at his near-post (31:53).

Ramsgate were guilty of hitting too many long balls forward and over-reliant on set-pieces and Wingate & Finchely’s two centre-halves of Benedict Frempah and Cracknell (who was chosen by competition sponsors Velocity as man-of-the-match) were outstanding in dealing with everything that came their way.

Clifford drilled a long left-footed diagonal from close to the half-way line out to Jadama, who cut inside and drilled an angled drive across Grainger and flashing past the far post just before the interval but this game lacked quality in the final third from both sides.

Paxman charged forward in a counter-attack, ignoring Bioletti on the outside and Frempah came out to make a block and Paxman’s left-footed drive from 20-yards flew into Grainger’s midriff for a comfortable save. An example of nothing was going to get through.

Martin, who lost Raphe Brown (groin) during the warm-up, was asked his thoughts during the interval.

“We just said we expect a reaction, expect a reaction and I thought we matched their next level.  I thought they were second best across the pitch, everyone watching that, it is difficult to say the lesser team have won it but I suppose that’s football and that’s why it’s so good.”

Wingate & Finchley went close to smashing the deadlock on the hour-mark (14:02) when winger McGettigan broke down the right cut inside and switched the play to two-goal striker Rueben Bartlett-Antwi, who cut inside and curled his right-footed shot from 16-yards, which arrowed over the diving keeper and narrowly over the top of the far post.

Ramsgate just didn’t look like scoring from any of their numerous set-pieces.  Holding midfielder Billy Munday stroked his right-footed free-kick over the five-man wall and over the top of the crossbar, aiming for the top far corner.

Paxman sent in a free-kick from within the centre-circle, the ball was flicked on by middle centre-half Mason Hunter and Lukan’s towering looping header was comfortably plucked out of the air by the untroubled Grainger.

Wingate & Finchley enjoyed a spell of pressure as the game ticked into the final 12 minutes and left-back MacKye Townsend-West put in a left-footed cross into the D where Restrepo swept his left-footed half-volley which was comfortably saved by Addai.

Addai pulled off two decent diving saves to thwart Wingate & Finchley before the end of normal time.

Hernandez and substitute Ryan Lowe linked up down the left before substitute central midfielder Lowe fizzed in a cross towards the near post where substitute attacker Romeo Akinola took a touch before drilling his right-footed shot towards the bottom near-corner, forcing Addai to diving to his right and use a strong right hand to make a big save (44:04).

Then Lowe played the ball in behind Webster to put Hernandez through on goal and the eight-goal winger drilled his left-footed shot towards the top near corner, only for Addai to dive high to his right and stick out a strong arm to turn towards safety.

“But listen, we were light.  We had young kids as well. They (Wingate & Finchley) rolled the dice and they had a few more better subs, I guess, coming into it in terms of experience but I can’t fault my youngsters, they were superb,” added Martin.

“Listen, the longer the game went on, we didn’t have the squad depth to go after the game, so we knew it was going to be difficult.

“We said that, that’s why we came out of the traps well but look it’s one of those ones. We’re a depleted squad at the minute with suspensions and injuries.

“Raphe went off in the warm-up.  He did his groin on Saturday. It seems to be when your luck’s out, your lucks out and that’s unfortunately where we’re at, so disappointing, very disappointing but we’ve got to wear it.”

There was to be just the one chance during the first period of extra time and it came Ramsgate’s way.

A high right-wing-back Webster delivered a deep cross into the Wingate & Finchley penalty area, an unmarked Paxman cushioned his header onto Munday’s forehead and his free-header was straight at Grainger, who made a comfortable catch and Munday made his tired looking way back to his berth in front of the back three.

Wingate & Finchley certainly had more strength-in-depth coming off the bench – after making seven changes to their starting line-up that lost 4-0 at Chatham Town at the weekend.

The winning goal that sent their small following into raptures came three minutes and 39 seconds into the second period of extra-time.

Substitute right-winger Remy-Lee Bennison was the architect, breaking down the line before easily cutting past Clifford and into the box towards the by-line and cutting the ball back towards a couple of team-mates lurking at the far post.

Adebayo took a touch before emphatically drilling his left-footed shot screaming over Addai’s left shoulder into the roof of the net from 10-yards.

“It was a good goal, yes, good goal, very good goal,” said Martin.

“Again, we probably had moments where we could do better before that ball getting there but listen we were tired legs by that stage, so we were always going to tire and ultimately we paid that price but we can’t fault the boys, the boys were superb.”

Ramsgate were too predictable in their play and lacked the quality needed to carve out and take a chance.

The Rams created a couple of late chances but both attempts went into orbit.

Defender Hunter drilled the ball into the box, Paxman knocked it down and Munday drilled his shot high over the crossbar from 25-yards (11:36).

A more gilt-edged chance fell to their four-goal striker Cundle with time ticking out (15:40).

Paxman put in yet another cross from the left and Cundle went to pieces just inside the penalty area, drilling his right-footed volley high into orbit, must to Martin’s frustration post-match.

“Cundle’s one, yes Cundle’s one, he’s got to do better! He’s got to do better!  It’s middle of the goal, he’s about 12-13 yards out, he’s got to just side-foot it. He leans back. I know he’s tired but a player of his calibre should be doing better than that as the kind of sequencies that was kind of the way that the game went for us.

“Look, across the extra-time as well, I thought we were good value for the win but listen, if you don’t take your chances, you get punished and that’s unfortunately we’re on the other end of.

“I’m so disappointed but they’ve left everything out there. I can’t fault the boys. I thought they were superb from start-to-finish. It’s just those moments. You need a leader to step up and get the goal, unfortunately it weren’t there today.

“One of our seven core responsibilities as a group is to accept defeat and accept defeat appropriately, so as much as it hurts, we’ll bottle it and we’ll store it and we’ll come back stronger next year!”

Ramsgate complete their campaign against relegated side Hashtag United at Southwood Stadium on Saturday, before travelling to Canvey Island on the final day of the season.

“It’s massively frustrating, massively. It’s important for us to go into that and give something back to the fans and I felt we left it short to be fair,” admitted Martin, who praised the large and vocal following from the Kent coast here.

“I felt we could’ve capitalised on an opportunity and done better with our finishing and brought something back, brought that trophy home back for the fans who travelled so well, so that’s the disappointing thing.

“They’re the best, they’re superb and we’ve had some good moments over the course of the year since we’ve come in. 

“We’ve petered off a little bit but that is momentum in football and we’ve been light in terms of our squad as well, so when you don’t sort of add to it, that’s unfortunately how you find yourself but again I can’t fault the boys.

“We’ll watch it back, reflect. I thought we set up perfectly. I thought everything we’ve worked on, even down to, from the kick-off.

“Our corners got a lot of joy, created chances, got in behind them. Everything that we predicted happened today, so we can take a lot of plaudits from myself and the coaching group because our game plan worked. It’s just fine margines and not getting a goal.”

When asked about Paxman’s 13 corner deliveries, Martin replied: “Yes, we didn’t attack it well enough, that’s the trouble.  But normally we’ve got Ian Gayle in there as well, he’s not there today and Raphe Brown, they head it a little bit better than most, so I suppose it’s a little bit of a lack of desire and hunger to get onto the end of balls. Paxman put in some fantastic balls.”

A disconsolate Martin know has a job to pick up his players for their last home outing against a Hashtag United side that arrive in Kent siting in the bottom four  with 39 points (10 wins, nine draws and 21 defeats).

When asked about their next game, Martin, who could hear and watch the victorious Wingate & Finchley players celebrating their win in the background, replied: “I don’t know. Let me see how I wake up mate to be fair. We’ve really, really hit a lol at the moment in time, so I don’t know.

“I don’t know what our last two games look like to be honest with you. We were banking on this one to be the pick-me-up. I think we’re now four loses on the bounce, so difficult times.

When asked to set the scene within his dressing room, Martin inevitably replied, “Low, low, now low. I’ve been there before as a player. There’s nothing that a manager can say at that moment in time. It’s disappointment, of course, but listen they should be proud of what we’ve achieved since we’ve come in, so we’re very grateful on that front.”

Ramsgate: Dillon Addai, Alfie Paxman, Henry Webster, Mason Hunter, Tom Clifford, Henry Lukombo, Tijan Jadama, Billy Munday, Greg Cundle, Kweku Lukan (Oliver Jackson 87), Benedict Bioletti (Liam Tullis 106).
Subs: Mason Buckingham, Lee Martin, Harley Harris

Booked: Benedict Bioletti 45, Billy Munday 120

Wingate & Finchley: Charlie Grainger, Rhamar Garrett-Douglas, Mackye Townsend-West (Remy-Lee Bennison 87), Sam Cornish, Benedict Frempah, William Cracknell, Caoilan McGettigan (Afi Adebayo 75), Benjamin Watt (Ryan Lowe 61), Ruben Bartlett-Antwi (Romeo Akinola 71, Alex Soloman 106)), Camilo Restrepo, Loic Hernandez.

Goal: Afi Adebayo 109

Booked: Mackye Townsend-West 47, Rhamar Garrett-Douglas 70, Charlie Grainger 120

Attendance: 1,166
Referee: Mr Harry Phillips
Assistants: Mr Andreas Anastasiou & Mr Jack Smith
Fourth Official: Mr Gerry Heron
Referee Coach:  Mr Darren Blunden