Folkestone Invicta 0-3 Ramsgate

Tuesday 28th August 2007

Folkestone Invicta suffered a second successive disappointingly heavy home defeat of the new Ryman Premier League season when they went down 3-0 at home to fellow Kent club Ramsgate at a sunny Buzzlines Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.

Any hopes Invicta had of building on their impressive win by the same scoreline at Harlow on Saturday were rocked as they again conceded an early home goal and left their supporters with little to cheer.

Invicta had comprehensively lost their opening day home fixture against Wealdstone and again struggled against big and strong opponents. The Folkestone side were once again brushed aside by Jim Ward’s Ramsgate side who have now all won three league fixtures between the two clubs over the past two seasons without conceding a goal.

Seven goals conceded in two home matches is clearly too many and after a week in which mistakes by even the England goalkeeper had been highlighted, Invicta custodian David Hogan came under the most criticism for this defeat.

Hogan – on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge due to an injury to Charlie Mitten – was clearly at fault for Ramsgate’s second goal and his reluctance to leave his goal line for crosses at least also contributed to the visitors’ first and last goals.

Invicta made one change to Saturday’s victorious line up as Ryan Briggs came in for the resting Roland Edge, with James Everitt switching to left back and Kevin Watson captain on his 100^th starting appearance for the club.

But the home side were soon behind as Ball touched in Danny Hill’s cross from the left hand side in the sixth minute after a long throw in had been flicked on and not fully cleared.

For Invicta, Damian Abel broke down the right hand side but fired wide after eight minutes and for all the home side’s possession and often good approach play, Ramsgate always looked dangerous with their more direct approach.

Visiting defender Nick Davis headed away Watson’s ball in from the right after 23 minutes with striker Leigh Bremner waiting to pounce and Abel and Watson switched flanks before half time.

Ball demonstrated good skill for Ramsgate on the left hand edge of the penalty area after 52 minutes when his shot on the turn flew just over the crossbar, while James Corbett shot at goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson at the other end a minute later.

But Ramsgate increased their lead in the 55^th minute following a free kick decision against Invicta right back David Piper. It was Davis who ultimately put the ball into the net when the subsequent set piece from the left was flapped at by Hogan and Lee Minshull struck the crossbar.

It left Invicta with a lot to do and they responded by bringing on centre forward Ellis Remy for Briggs.

Remy was soon involved as his strong but fair tackle left Ramsgate’s influential centre half Olly Schulz unable to continue.

But Ramsgate were close again in the 71st minute when Minshull headed over from close range after a Michael Phillipps corner on the right.

Invicta badly needed a goal to bring them back into the game but Remy could only shoot wide following a ball in from the left after 74 minutes and a Corbett shot from the left hand side of the penalty area was touched over the bar for a corner by Wilkerson when Abel played the ball across.

But another cross led to Ramsgate’s third goal in the 83^rd minute when Ball struck again to touch a Phillipps cross from the right into the net from close range with Hogan again rooted to his line.

Invicta were denied any kind of consolation when Watson headed against the crossbar in the 89^th minute following a corner from the right and how Ramsgate somehow managed to keep Liam Friend’s rebound from crossing the line typified the visitors’ dogged determination and commitment to their cause.

James Everitt then shot wide from substitute Ben Sly’s corner from the left during stoppage time.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Hogan, Piper, Briggs (Remy 56), Watson, Friend, Chappell, J. Everitt, M. Everitt, Abel, Bremner (Sly 70), Corbett.
Subs: Edge, Saunders, Stonebridge.

RAMSGATE: Wilkerson, Vallance, Hill (Tanner 82), Davis, O. Schulz (Graham 63 ), Hadden, Burton, W. Schulz (Pettit 90), Minshull, Ball, Phillips. Subs: Vahid, Laslett.

Attendance: 382.

Referee: Stuart Butler Assistants: Rob Baker and Graeme Ions

And we bring you the Ramsgate perspective:

Steffan Ball's double strike secured the Rams a comfortable 3-0 win and maximum points over the Bank Holiday fixtures, writes Aaran Ayres.

The Rams' boss Jim Ward made one change from Saturday's win over Leyton, handing a recall for Ashley Burton at the expense Will Graham who was dropped to the bench.

The Thanet side took the game by the scruff of the neck from the off and never loosened their grip as the home side found it very difficult to contain the Ramsgate players.

In the opening minutes powerhouse midfielder Lee Minshull flopped a bicycle kick from Captain Warren Schulz's free kick, so didn't test the Folkestone ‘keeper David Hogan. Then in the 6th minute Dean Hill's perfectly-weighted cross found Ball, who slotted the ball home to the delight the travelling Ramsgate Fans.

Folkestone's response summed up their poor afternoon. Damian Abel's darting run down the wing beat Hill, but the normally-clinical striker's shot was woefully off target. Ramsgate dominated the midfield as the home side was 2nd best for most of the challenges.

Warren Schulz received lengthy treatment following clash of heads with a Folkestone player. Ramsgate were temporarily down to 10 men and Folkestone did liven up, but failed to test Paul Wilkerson in goal. Burton gave an away a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, but James Corbett wasted a good chance with a poor free kick.

The second half saw Ball's shot well saved by David Hogan, but moments later Michael Phillips' corner saw Minshull power header hit the crossbar, only for defender Nick Davis to head home Ramsgate's 2^nd goal of the game (and his 2^nd of the season). The visitors were forced to make a sub when Will Graham replaced Olly Schulz, who was injured and could not continue after a late challenge by Invicta sub Ellis Remy.

An unmarked Minshull found himself unlucky not to get his name among the goals when his header was just a little too high and over the crossbar, after beating the Folkestone defenders from Phillips' perfect corner. Corbett continued to try his best for Invicta, but he didn't cause a sweat for Wilkerson when his shot was easily saved.

Ball completed the scoring on 82 minutes when Phillips' lovely teasing cross found striker Ball unmarked in the area to tap home his 2^nd of the game.

A minute from the end, Remy header hit the Wilkerson crossbar and Folkestone's follow up saw Davis make a fantastic goal line clearance in the packed penalty area.

The Reserves are at home tomorrow night against Dover Athletic, which will feature some fringe 1^st team players. This Saturday sees Shaun Wellford available for selection and Olly Schulz suspended when we travel to Harlow Town.