Ward feels aprehensive ahead of K's cup clash - EXCLUSIVE

Ramsgate boss Jim Ward will remind his players of their FA Cup exploits last season minutes before Sunday’s first qualifying round tie kick’s off at Kingstonian, writes Stephen McCartney.

But Ward feels “apprehensive” after his then Kent League side shocked the then Ryman Premier League K’s two years ago, when his side came away from Kingsmeadow with a 2-0 win.

Ramsgate, however, have enjoyed the last two years, winning back-to-back championships and last term their FA Cup dream ended in the first round proper, going out on 5 November at Nuneaton Borough, a side that took Premiership side Middlesbrough to a third round replay.

Ward has not forgotten that day, and will rally his troops in the visitors changing room minutes before Sunday’s showdown.

When asked how he was feeling, Ward revealed: “Apprehensive. I’ve been saying it to everybody, two years ago we went to Kingstonian when we were in the Kent League and they were two leagues above and we beat them 2-0," he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Friday evening.

“Now the boots on the other foot. We go there in the higher league and they’ve got the opportunity to turn the tables on us,” he warned.

“But having said that, we’re in fine fiddle at the moment and all the boys can’t wait to get their boots on.”

Especially after winning the first chapter of the “Battle of Thanet” on Tuesday night, in front of 783 passionate fans at fortress Southwood Stadium.

Goals from Michael Yianni and Shaun Welford have set up another lucrative home tie, against lower league Dover Athletic in the third round of the Westview Cup on 3 October.

Reflecting on their win over their Thanet rivals, Ward said: “Well deserved. There’s been a lot said in the Thanet paper and on websites about it’s a two bob cup and it didn’t mean anything.

“Believe me both sets of players and both sets of supporters it meant everything before we went 2-0 up and then they said it was a two bob cup.

“We always took the game what it was. On the night we rested a couple due to injuries but we wanted to win, as did Margate.

“If you read the stats they will tell you we had seven shots on target, 7 off, they had one on target, a Jimmy Jackson free kick, and four off target. So it doesn’t take a lot of working out.

“The chairman was happy because it was the only game that drew a decent crowd and we’ve drawn Dover at home in the next round.

“You can’t call it a two bob cup this year because again we’ll get a decent crowd.”

Since their promotion from the Kent League, Ramsgate are enjoying their fare share of games that attract bumper crowds, and Ward revealed at least 100 fans will make the trip to Kingsmeadow on Sunday.

“The atmosphere at Ramsgate on Tuesday night was unbelievable,” said Ward “I’d never thought I’d hear or see so much passion behind the goal. There must have been 300-400 people signing their hearts out for Ramsgate.

“It was great for the fans and especially for the players to play in front of. It was a great lift.”

But Ward doesn’t want to taste elimination from the FA Cup at their first hurdle on Sunday.

“I asked the players on Tuesday how much they want to stay in the FA Cup, and they all said “yes”.

“I said we have to be nice and professional and do a job on Sunday because Kingstonian won’t be easy.

“Of course we want to be in the hat on Monday. I’ve had them watched twice and come Sunday I will know everything I need to know about them.

“Last year we only missed Nottingham Forest, former European champions, by one number so we want to stay in the cup where the league club’s come in, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we can do that.”

But Sam Thomas, 27, who was a subject of a seven day approach from Ward last week, has decided to stay at Kent League side Thamesmead Town.

Ward explained: “Due to work commitments he couldn’t commit to the travelling. He came down Tuesday night to see the Margate game and was amazed with the pace.

“Maybe he felt, at the bottom of his heart, that he was never up to it, I will never know.”

Ward revealed he will be at Southwood Stadium on Saturday, watching his reserves take on Erith & Belvedere, particularly a goalkeeper and a midfielder who are both on trial.

Experienced FA Cup campaigner, Mark Munday, meanwhile, misses out with a hamstring injury.

Visit Ramsgate's website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk