Fleet Town 0-2 Ramsgate - Our work-rate was different class, says Quinn

Saturday 31st October 2009

FLEET TOWN 0-2 RAMSGATE
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 31st October 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Calthorpe Park

TEN-MAN Ramsgate booked their place in the final qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, thanks to a smash-and-grab raid which ended Andy Sinton’s side’s run of ten straight league and cup wins.

Skipper Warren Schulz (for a second yellow) and manager Jim Ward (for protesting over the decision) were both sent-off just before the end of a hard-fought first half, but two goals in 102 seconds sent resilient Ramsgate through.

Striker, Gary Mickelborough’s tenth goal of the season came from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Tom Bird - and Liam Quinn’s dipping left-footed volley from 35-yards - ensured Fleet were defeated for the first time on the slope at Calthorpe Park for the first time since Folkestone Invicta’s 1-0 win back on 22nd August.

Ramsgate were without defensive pair, Jason Dolby and Andy Hadden through suspension, so their places were taken by Rhys Lawson and Luke Wheatley, who is on-loan from Margate.

The Rams, who were kicking down the slope during the first half, went close inside the opening three minutes, but Schulz’s right-footed free-kick from 25-yards curled over the top of the near post.

Despite Fleet striker, Mark Anderson netting SEVENTEEN goals already this season, the home side’s threat came from central defender Steve Hemmings.

He was denied from close range by 21-year-old goalkeeper, Sam Mott, after Darren Wheeler whipped in an inviting curling free-kick from the right in the sixth minute.

A clever free-kick from Fleet set up another chance in the 25th minute. Wheeler’s free-kick was slipped into Nathan Smart’s path and his cross from the right was met by Hemmings’ far post header, which cleared the bar.

Ramsgate’s first shot on target finally arrived two minutes later when the Fleet defence allowed Mickelborough to break forward but his right-footed drive from 30-yards was comfortably saved by David Smalley.

Workmanlike Fleet failed to break through a solid Ramsgate defence during an even first half and Hemmings came up from the back again to power his header into Mott’s arms after Paul Harkness floated a free-kick from the centre circle into the Ramsgate penalty area.

Schulz, who had only been booked a minute earlier, was shown his second yellow card for his challenge on Hemmings and referee Mr Chris O’Donnell went over to the dug-out to ask Ward to leave his technical area for his protests before Smalley could take the resulting free-kick many yards outside his penalty area.

Ward, watching the second half in between the two dug-outs but behind the fence, was full of praise for 23-year-old Mickelborough, and the striker turned and unleashed a right-footed drive just past the far post from 25-yards inside the first two minutes of the second half, following Ward’s inspirational team talk.

Mott, who was second choice keeper at Ebbsfleet United last season, made a defining save in the 55th minute as a slick move involving Tyron Smith and Nathan Smart released Wheeler through on goal, but the keeper made a match-winning fine block to deny the winger.

Ramsgate substitute, Simon Pettit, then released Mickelborough and Smalley saved his fierce drive from outside the box at the second attempt.

Then, a ball forward was brought down under control by Mickelborough who rounded the advancing Smalley but his progress was halted by Bird, who was booked, as to the referee’s credit there were bodies between the striker and the goal.

The gem got himself off the ground, dusted himself down, and his resulting penalty had enough on it to beat Smalley, who had guessed the right way, as Ramsgate had grabbed a 58th minute lead.

Even the Fleet faithful applauded Ramsgate’s second soon after - although the “Care in the Community” Fleet middle-aged supporter sitting beside the press box didn’t - and spent the entire game moaning and everything and everybody out on the pitch.

Quinn saw the ball drop over his shoulder and the ball rolled off his chest and with the outside of his left boot struck an excellent volley from 35-yards, which looped high over Smalley and dropped into the bottom right-hand corner to finish off the job.

Having complete their smash-and-grab raid, Ramsgate, who were forced to switch their formation from
4-4-2 to an attacking 4-3-2 for the second half, protected what they had as Fleet piled down the slope to keep their FA Trophy dream alive.

Fleet’s best moments, however, came in the final fifteen minutes, when, following a low centre across the face of goal from substitute, James Field, Hemmings lifted the ball against the crossbar when well placed at the far post.

Mott made a couple off smart saves too and rode his own luck when Anderson’s angled drive flashed past the diving keeper to bounce off the foot of the far post.

For the satisfied Ramsgate faithful, the long trip from Thanet to Hampshire was worthwhile and their manager, who made a swift phone call to Mrs Ward, then grabbed a well-deserved bottle of beer from the boardroom, spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk for more than five minutes on his side’s performance.

Fleet went into this game having conceded only four goals in eleven games at home, and the Scotsman can understand why.

“Well, I felt the first half was really even because the elements are funny here!” he said.

“That’s why they’ve only let in two (league) goals here all year. It’s a hill and a half! They won’t have to go anywhere else to do their training, trying to run up and down that hill!

“It’s an advantage obviously for the home team but we had a game plan, unfortunately the referee turned up and to be fair that’s the second time I’ve been sent off in about twenty years!

“It’s was nothing!” he added, “because he got it all completely wrong!

“He was good second half because he was good both ways, but the first half he was shocking, shocking!”

Speaking about his side’s battling second half performance, Ward continued, “I said to them at half-time, it’s 0-0, we wont be negative, we’ll go to 4-3-2 with two men up front and we’ll press them up there and be positive and we’ll shock them.

“They couldn’t handle us and Gary Mickelborough, well Gary Mickelborough was absolutely outstanding!

“I thought Gary and Sam Mott were the best players on the pitch and I thought Mickelborough worked his socks off. I had to take him off because he’s got to go to Vienna on Monday (to work, returning on Friday).

“But I’m ever so proud of the boys today, I really am!”

Speaking about his skipper’s sending off, Ward replied, “I thought he’s second tackle, I would’ve been screaming for a yellow card. He’s first one was nothing!

“It was one of the stages where the referee was going through his bad spell. He was booking Ramsgate players left, right and centre for things that weren’t happening and he booked Warren when the other guy pulled his shirt but the second one was definitely a yellow card.”

When asked if we would not see a better goal than Quinn’s, Ward said the former Whitstable star scored a better one when the Rams beat Fleet 1-0 at Southwood Stadium on the opening day of the season.

“Funny enough, he has scored a better one!” replied the Scot. “The better one he’s scored was against Fleet Town when we beat them 1-0 at our place - same area, same distance.”

Quinn, was naturally pleased with his goal - and praised his team-mates for getting stuck in.

“The keeper (Smalley) said at the end, two lucky strikes, but I don’t believe that,” the 22-year-old, who took the armband following the red-card, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk in the entrance to the clubhouse.

“When you go down to ten-men, everyone’s got to work that extra 10%. I thought we did that, everyone, you couldn’t pick out our best player out of the ten that stayed on. Our work-rate was different class.

“I think they thought when they came out for the second half that they would steamroll us and use the extra player to their advantage but we scored two in quick succession and their heads went and we dug in and held on to the end.”

Quinn proudly spoke about his goal, adding, “Simon Pettit’s done fantastic to win the ball to be fair. It just came over my head, I just got a chest and a knee on it and it sat just right and I thought why not, so with the outside of the left boot, it dropped into the corner.”

This victory clearly shows the team spirit that Ramsgate is renowned for is back.

“We’re putting a side together here that’s taken a bit of time but last year’s exodus of big money players, I’m glad to see the back of them all because I’ve got such a squad here that are playing for the shirt,” added Ward.

Fleet Town, who went into today’s game sitting in fourth place in the Ryman League Division One South table (Ramsgate were eleventh) will be desperate to beat the Rams when the two sides meet here again in the league in December.

“They won’t want us coming here again in a few weeks time and on the back off that. That’s three clean sheets in a row.”

Fleet Town: David Smalley (Bernard Abante 84), Ian Griffin, Tom Bird, Leigh Rumbold, Steve Noakes, Steve Hemmings, Nathan Smart (James Field 57), Tyron Smith, Mark Anderson (Joe Nwoko 57), Paul Harkness, Darren Wheeler.
Subs: Andy Sinton, Jamie Norris.

Booked: Tom Bird 58, Steve Hemmings 86

Ramsgate: Sam Mott, Rhys Lawson (Ollie Gray 85), James Gregory, Luke Wheatley, Will Graham, Ben Laslett, Liam Quinn, Warren Schulz, Gary Mickelborough (Tom Tsangarides 76), Kenny Pratt (Simon Pettit 45), Curtis Winnett.
Subs: Gary Lockyer, Sam Jones.

Goals: Gary Mickelborough 58 (pen), Liam Quinn 61

Booked: Will Graham 1, Warren Schulz 42, Curtis Winnett 56

Sent off: Warren Schulz 43

Attendance: 118
Referee: Mr Chris O’Donnell (Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire)
Assistants: Mr Phil Wilkinson (Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire) & Mr Robert Trinder (Dunstable, Bedfordshire)