Fleet Town 1-1 Ramsgate - I'm not happy with a point - Ward

Tuesday 23rd February 2010

FLEET TOWN 1-1 RAMSGATE
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 23rd February 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Calthorpe Park

RAMSGATE boss Jim Ward has given up on any hope of getting into the Ryman League Division One South play-offs after playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw at third-placed side Fleet Town tonight.

This result has left the Rams eleven points adrift of fifth place with 15 league games remaining and Ward, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, admitted any thoughts of clinching promotion at the end of the season have been put on hold for another year.

With his side in 12th place with 9 wins, 9 draws and 9 defeats, the Scot stayed inside the dressing room a lot longer than normal and after 20 minutes emerged, saying, “We’re midtable. We can’t go up and we can’t go down and to be honest with you we’re too inexperienced to go into the Premiership anyway so we’re rebuilding.”

He added: “I think too many teams are 12 points ahead of us now.”

Tonight’s battling display was what was to be expected on a muddy pitch, one that had passed two pitch inspections during the afternoon.

Tom Tsangarides’ sixth goal of the season wasn’t enough as Andy Sinton’s side levelled nine minutes later and Ramsgate did enough to come away from Calthorpe Park with a well deserved point.

“I’m not pleased,” said Ward. “I felt on the balance of play we at least deserved a draw. I know they had enough of the ball but again I’ve got a keeper injured and another lad’s gone in goal and he hasn’t had to make a save, not one save and the other lad didn’t made a save before that.”

Ward started the game with Danny Twyman in goal but he was forced off the pitch after 74 minutes with a kick on the elbow and with makeshift central defenders in Ollie Gray, 18, and Liam Quinn due to injuries to Jason Dolby and Will Graham, the Rams contingent (there were only six behind the goal) that made the long journey would have been satisfied.

It was evident from an early stage that this game would become a midfield battle as real goalscoring chances were at a premium.

Fleet Town’s left-sided midfielder Jason Field and Paul Harkness (who was wearing the number 9 shirt, despite playing in front of the home side’s back four) both tried their luck with shots from outside the box that went wide in what turned out to be a scrappy first half.

Following a move down the left involving Tsangardies and Simon Pettit, Ramsgate skipper Warren Schulz also drilled a right-footed shot, which flashed just past the left-hand post from 30-yards.

In fact, the sparse crowd of just 89 had to wait until the 35th minute for the first shot on target, as Ramsgate midfielder Pettit drilled a right-footed effort from 30-yards which found Lyall Beazley’s chest.

Attacking left-back, Tom Bird then picked out Fleet skipper Tyron Smith on the edge of the penalty area, who cracked a hooked left-footed volley, which curled just past the far post.

Ramsgate almost grabbed the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Andy Hadden’s corner from the right was cut back to Pettit, who drove a low shot towards goal and this was parried by the diving Beazley, but Gary Mickelborough failed to find the decisive touch in what was a goal-mouth scramble.

The small crowd hoped for much better football for the second half.

The home faithful felt their side had broken the stalemate four minutes into the half when Twyman was beaten by Field’s hooked volley, which screamed inches past the post.

A ball over the top by defender Luke Evans released Field down the left and his 55th minute cross to the near post was flicked on by Daniel Read but this was caught by an alert Twyman, who was lurking close by.

Ramsgate, who went into this game with two wins over their opponents this season, grabbed the lead just before the hour mark.

Hadden’s dipping free-kick from 30-yards was heading towards the far corner, but Beazley parried the fierce shot and this dropped to Pettit just six-yards out and his looping shot bounced down off the crossbar and Tsangarides steered the ball over the line from just a yard out in a scramble.

Fleet striker Read then cut in from the left and sent a curling shot just over the bar before the home side levelled in the 66th minute.

Bird once again joined an attack and whipped in an excellent cross, which found Hemmings at the near post and his deft flick from six-yards beat the keeper (and his marker) at his near post.

With substitute goalkeeper Sam Mott now on the pitch, Fleet (attacking down the slope) created three good chances to take all three points.

Substitute Joe Nwoko raced clear and with only the keeper to beat he smashed his shot past the near post and then the striker flicked Eddie Smith’s low cross across the face of goal when he really should have found the net.

Mott made his only save late on when Tyron Smith’s free-kick from the right was headed back across goal and the former Ebbsfleet United second-choice stopper made an excellent reaction save from point-blank range to prevent Leigh Rumbold from heading home.

“Neither keeper made a lot of saves,” reflected Ward from outside the dressing rooms. “We knew it was going to be hard, but they’ve never beaten us! It’s the first time they’ve scored against us! They’ll be delighted to see the back of us!

“It’s very difficult to beat the same team three times. I think I told you that four or five years ago son! Hendon, remember, we beat Hendon three times in one year.

“We’ve come here and we’ve won one and drawn one and we beat them at home. You’ve heard it, we had the lads in there for about a quarter-of-an-hour giving them a b*****king if you like and we’ve come to places like Fleet and got a draw.

“We’re going through a learning curve at the moment. I’ve got a lot of young lads in my team. I’ve got a lot of experience so we now have to begin to have names and get ourselves sorted for next year.”

Summing up, Ward added: “Pleased with a point at the start of the season, you would’ve taken it, but tonight you don’t want to take it! We want to win a game, it’s three draws in the last four games. It’s not good!”

Fleet Town: Lyall Beazley, Steve Noakes, Tom Bird, Leigh Rumbold, Luke Evans, Stephen Hemmings, James Field, Tyron Smith, Paul Harkness (Edward Smith 63), Daniel Read (Joe Nwoko 81), Darren Wheeler (Bernard Asante 86).

Subs: Darren Campbell, David Smalley.

Goal: Stephen Hemmings 66

Booked: Tom Bird 32, Luke Evans 57, Steve Noakes 58, Leigh Rumbuld 71

Ramsgate: Danny Twyman (Sam Mott 74), Rhys Lawson, James Gregory, Ollie Gray, Liam Quinn, Ben Laslett, Andy Hadden (Curtis Winnett 64), Warren Schulz, Gary Mickelborough, Tom Tsangarides (Kenny Pratt 81), Simon Pettit.

Subs: Gary Lockyer, Brett Mills.

Goal: Tom Tsangarides 57

Booked: Andy Hadden 51, Gary Mickelborough 61, Curtis Winnett 67

Attendance: 89

Referee: Mr Mark Walton (Hook, Hampshire)

Assistants: Mr Vince Penfold (Addlestone, Surrey) & Mr Andy Roberts (Ash Vale, Surrey)