24thsept04

Ramsgate wantage game to start

DANNY WARD, assistant manager at Go Travel Kent League side Ramsgate, his brother Jim is their manager, has admitted the players cannot wait to play tomorrow's FA Vase opponents Wantage Town following last Saturday's stunning 2-0 FA Cup win at Ryman Premier Division side Kingstonian, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams, who entertain Ryman League Division One side Dulwich Hamlet next Saturday in the FA Cup second qualifying round, travel to Oxfordshire full of confidence looking to progress in the FA Vase competition.

However, the management team at Southwood Stadium have been trying to calm down the squad following their exploits at Kingsmeadow.

Ward revealed: "What we are trying to do at the moment is keep the lads' feet on the ground.

"We had a fantastic win last week and we go into the FA Vase tomorrow and if we play to our full potential we've got half a chance to have quite a good run in it this year."

The squad have trained twice this week and Ward added: "We are just trying to calm the players down!

"They are champing at the bit to get at Wantage and hopefully by 3pm tomorrow we'll have them nice and level headed again and give it a go."

With such a young squad, the Ward brothers have explained to the players what it feels like to have an extended run in the competition, following the club's run in 2000 - the year local rivals Deal Town were successful at Wembley Stadium.

"We've explained everything about the FA Vase to them and we've got a few experienced players that have played quite a lot of Kent League games but haven't done so well in the cups.

"However, we've explained about the good away days in these kind of competitions and it's good playing against other teams, testing your limits against them."

Ward admitted the squad of young players are always willing to learn from the experienced management team.

"They are willing to listen to everything you tell them and they do what they are told, and they all seem to be enjoying it!"


Wantage Town vs Ramsgate
FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 25th September 2004
Kick Off 3:00pm