AFC Sudbury 0-0 Ramsgate (Rams won 5-4 on pens) Ramsgate's biggest and best night, says Chairman

Goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson, 33, who kept the Thanet side in the game with some crucial saves to thwart a very good AFC Sudbury team, was the hero when he dived low to his left to save the ninth penalty, taken by nervous looking full-back Shane Wardley.

The proceeding eight penalties, however, were clinically taken and when Stuart Vahid thumped home the tenth penalty, this sparked wild celebrations both on and off the pitch as Ramsgate bagged another piece of silverware under the management team of brothers Jim and Danny Ward.

This was a bitter pill for AFC Sudbury to swallow, especially losing this showpiece final at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium.

The Suffolk side may have two games in hand over the Darts, who are six points clear, but the Darts must now hold the physiological advantage in the race for the Ryman League Division One North title following Sudbury’s mentally and physically draining set-back tonight.

Sudbury skipper David Head took the first penalty - in front of baying Ramsgate fans - and was relieved to see his right-footed penalty find the net after bouncing down off the underside of the crossbar.

Substitute Matty Clements; Gareth Heath and Stuart Boardley converted their spot-kicks but looked on in horror when Wardley met his match in Wilkerson.

Ramsgate’s penalty heroes were substitute Dan Dolton; skipper Warren Schulz; his brother Ollie; Lee Minshull, before Vahid brought the Cup to Kent for the very first time.

Both sets of supporters must take plenty of credit for their excellent support that they gave their players throughout this Cup Final in North Kent.

AFC Sudbury, who had already dumped out three premier sides en-route to the final, called Wilkerson into action as early as the seventh minute.

A break from Broadley down the left resulted in a low cross into Gareth Heath, whose left-footed shot bounced into the grateful arms of the goalkeeper, via a fine block from Dan Tanner.

It was the Suffolk side that created the better chances in the early exchanges and former Gillingham skipper Paul Smith went close when he poked his right-footed volley over from eight-yards following Heath’s free-kick from the left-flank.

Ramsgate’s best chance, however, arrived after 28 minutes. Left-back Dean Hill played the ball over the top of Sudbury’s defence and after Vahid rode Kevin Hughes’ challenge, the striker’s right-footed lob dropped agonisingly inside the six-yard box and the Suffolk side were able to clear.

Ramsgate skipper Warren Schulz twice struck shots from outside the box over the bar and into the excellent vocal Sudbury supporters behind that goal.

But Wilkerson pulled off his first stunning save of the match after 37 minutes.

Sudbury played the ball over the top of the Ramsgate defence for Heath, who drove a right-footed shot from ten-yards towards goal but the experienced goalkeeper stood tall and flicked the ball over his crossbar.

Heath then latched onto a quick pass down the inside left channel but his left-footed lob from sixteen-yards flew just over.

Ramsgate almost grabbed the lead on the stroke of half time when a deep corner from Warren Schulz was controlled at the far post by Nick Davis and his right-footed shot was smothered by Sudbury’s goalkeeper Nathan Munson, who was quickly off his line.

Wilkerson was, however, beaten in the 53^rd minute by the pace of Darren Bethell, who took the ball around the goalkeeper, only for his cut-back to be turned away for a corner by Ramsgate defender Ashley Burton.

Ramsgate called Munson into action on the hour mark when Vahid flicked header, following Ollie Schulz long ball from midfield, was comfortably saved.

But Sudbury were to rue their best opportunities to open the scoring just two minutes later.

A ball into the penalty area was picked up by striker Bethell, who turned Davis before cracking a snap shot towards goal.

Wilkerson did brilliantly to beat the shot away, only as far as Heath who sent his bullet header just over the crossbar, missing an open goal with the goalkeeper grounded.

Another Sudbury chance went begging when Boardley crossed into the heart of the Rams defence saw their defender David Head blast high and wide from ten-yards.

A through ball from Warren Schulz saw Vahid break into the Sudbury penalty area with 67 minutes on the clock, but his low shot from an acute angle was saved by Munson at the near post.

Sudbury were cursing their luck as the woodwork saved Ramsgate with nineteen minutes left.

A long throw from the left was allowed to bounce through the Ramsgate penalty area before David Head looped his header agonisingly against Wilkerson’s crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

Ramsgate boss Jim Ward changed to a 4-4-2 formation and it was their turn to hit the crossbar with thirteen minutes remaining as extra time loomed.

Strong midfielder Lee Minshull drove at the Sudbury defence before being forced across the penalty area before laying the ball to Andy Hadden, whose curling shot agonisingly crashed against the crossbar, although it appeared that Munson might have touched the shot onto the woodwork.

Despite both side’s efforts to score, in a very entertaining game, another thirty minutes was needed.

Ramsgate skipper Warren Schulz went close to breaking the deadlock early in the first period of extra time when his right-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area screwed agonisingly past the foot of the right-upright, following Minshull’s little chipped cross from the left.

But Sudbury should have been reduced to ten-men following a flash point towards the end of the first period.

Luke Hammond escaped punishment after clashing with Warren Schulz following the Ramsgate skipper’s crude sliding tackle on the blonde haired substitute.

Luton referee Mr Matthew McLaughlin rightly booked Schulz for the challenge but overlooked the retaliation by Hammond, who required treatment close to the by-line.

And it was Hammond who almost clinched victory in the last three minutes of extra time, but Ramsgate had Wilkerson to thank for making another vital save.

Sudbury’s dangerman Heath broke down the right-hand side and laid the ball off to Matty Clements on the edge of the box.

The substitute swept the ball and found Hammond unmarked and with hearts in mouths the low right-footed shot was brilliantly saved by the legs of Wilkerson, who quickly sat on the ball before clutching it to the delight of the Ramsgate faithful.

In the end, it was Warren Schulz who received the trophy from Ryman League chairman Mr Alan Turvey, and assistant manager Danny Ward, holding the cup with his right hand, spoke EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards and was quick to pay tribute to the excellent support that his players received.

“It’s massive, massive for the football club,” said the younger Ward brother.

“I said to the lads before the game, five years ago when we came back from wherever it was then we were fifth bottom in the Kent League.

“Now we’re champions of the Ryman Isthmian League Cup. People can say what they want about the Cup competition but we wanted to win it - we won it!”

Tonight’s Cup success has given the Rams even more hunger to lift a second trophy this season - the one that you collect when you win promotion via the play-off’s.

“I’ve told them in there all we want now, we want to go, let’s get into the play-off’s,” said Danny Ward. “We’re as good as anyone in our league.”

Reflecting on the game, he added: “A good game tonight. Both sides had plenty of chances. Andy Hadden’s nearly broke his duck, getting his goal. This season he’s set up about five of them this year but I think we thoroughly deserved to win and we’ll have a nice quiet night tonight!!!”

Ward was delighted that Vahid kept his cool under immense pressure - in front of expectant Rams fans - after Wilkerson’s heroic penalty save.

Danny said: “Jim’s a very good judge of goalkeepers and such things and he said “I don’t think Paul’s going to save one of these!” and then he saved it.

“Stuart Vahid told all the boys that he was either going to toe-poke it or chip the goalkeeper with his penalty. Thankfully he went up the other end and slotted it into the top corner.”

Danny Ward paid tribute to everybody at Southwood Stadium, who made this such a special night.

“Fantastic for this football club,” he said. “There’s so many people at this football club who deserve this.

“We’re a small club, we’re a small club. We’ve got no money, we’re here because we want to play football.

“If you told me four years ago that we were bringing this kind of support to an away match, never mind a home match, I would given you good odds on that. But tonight they sung themselves hoarse and they were fantastic!”

Chelmsford City can clinch the Ryman Premier League title on Saturday if they collect at least a point against Ramsgate.

But the Rams are going to Melbourne Park to gatecrash their promotion party.

“They need a point to win the league,” said Danny. “We’re intending to go there and win.

“We beat them 2-0 at home, they won’t fancy playing against us. If they’re not up for it, we will beat them! It’s up to them.”

He added: “Hopefully we’ve got a play-off cup to pick up as well, that’s what we’re going for.”

Ward, meanwhile, was full of praise for Sudbury, a side that should secure promotion into the Ryman Premier League with Kent giants Dartford - via the promotion play-off’s.

Danny Ward said this to their players and management team after the game; “Hopefully you’ll be in the Ryman Premier League next year - hope we don’t see you - but hopefully you’ll be in the Ryman Premier because a club like you play football in the right way.”

Ward felt all this game was lacking were goals, saying: “It was a good game of football, a good game to watch. It could actually been four each. Andy Hadden’s hit the crossbar, Paul Wilkerson’s done a couple of saves that were fantastic, they had a couple of chances, could have been three or four each.

“You’d never see a better 0-0, that’s for sure!”

Ramsgate chairman, Richard Lawson, was so proud of the players’ performance.

“Best night ever, biggest night ever,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk. when we found him in the jubilant crowd afterwards.

“I thought we were going to win it two or three months ago. I really did!

“I just fancied the way we played, the lads dug in, you saw what they done tonight, they dug in, they battled, that’s what we’re all about.”

Mr Lawson, who hinted that he could be stepping down as chairman at the end of the season after twenty years, also paid tribute to the club’s supporters.

He said: “It’s reward for all our fans who travel all over the place, they follow us everywhere this lot.”

And looking ahead to the Rams visit to Chelmsford City, Mr Lawson added: “It’s like the Charity Shield isn’t it? Champions against Cup winners, but a bit early!”

AFC Sudbury: Nathan Munson, Sheridan Driver (Chris Tracey 45), Shane Wardley, Paul Smith, Kevin Hughes, David Head, Gareth Heath, Simon Head (Matty Clements 87), Gareth Simpson, Darren Bethell (Luke Hammond 98), Stuart Boardley.
Subs: Nicky Smith, Danny Stokes.

Booked: David Head 29

Ramsgate: Paul Wilkerson, Ashley Burton, Dean Hill, Nick Davis, Ollie Schulz, Dan Tanner (Dan Dolton 76), Andy Hadden, Warren Schulz, Lee Minshull, Stuart Vahid, Ben Laslett.
Subs: Lenny Piper, Aaron Firth, Steve Martin, Shaun Alliston.

Booked: Warren Schulz 105, Stuart Vahid 115

Attendance: 568
Referee: Mr Matthew McLaughlin (Luton, Bedfordshire)
Assistants: Mr Paul Kelly (Gillingham, Kent) & Mr Charles Breakspear (Walton-on-Thames, Surrey)
Fourth Official: Mr Carl Berry (Cheam, Surrey)