Maidstone United 4-1 Ramsgate - I just think we'll get better, says Stones boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED  4-1  RAMSGATE
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12^th November 2011
Mike Green reports from Bourne Park

RAMSGATE boss Jim Ward was in a reflective mood as he left Bourne Park after seeing his side become Maidstone United's latest victims as Jay Saunders made it 11 wins from 12 games since losing their first two games of the season.

And yet as the canny Scotsman returned down the Thanet Way, he will know that if only his side had shown the same ruthless streak in front of goal as the Stones had, this remarkable Kent derby could have surely seen a goal count in double figures.
 
With keeper Charlie Mitten injured, Saunders first surprise of the afternoon was the unveiling of former Gillingham (amongst others) keeper Kelvin Jack.  The giant keeper, who remember played at the 2006 German World Cup for Trinidad, played for the Stones in a couple of pre-season games, answered the managers emergency call, and showed on a couple of occasions that he still has a lot to offer the Stones with a series of very fine saves.
 
The Stones were out of the traps very quickly indeed and central defender Gavin Greenfield saw a header in the first ninety seconds flash narrowly wide of Danny Twyman's right post. 

The visitors failed to heed the warning as on just six minutes, the Stones took the lead. 

Shaun Welford brought the ball down on the edge of the box superbly and when he rolled in Ellis Green, the winger’s thundered home his sixth goal of season - beating the Rams keeper low to his right.

The goal seemed to settle the Rams more than the hosts, as the visitors hit back and levelled within 12 minutes. 

Twyman's huge clearance eluded the defence, and Ian Pulman battled through magnificently and gave Jack no chance from the edge of the box. 

Indeed, Pulman's battle with Greenfield and Stones skipper Graeme Andrews with one of the many highlights from an absorbing derby.
 
As the ebbed and flowed from end to end Andrews fired a shot across the face of the Rams goal, before the Stones took control with two goals in 90 seconds. 

The home side were back in front courtesy of Welford's 20th goal of the season - the former Rams striker taking advantage of Tommy Osborne's header that looped one back or even equalise just after so invitingly over the top of the visitors’ defence.  

Two became three less than a minute later when Alex Flisher was on hand to bravely stoop to head the third after Green's cross had been headed back across goal by Greenfield.
 
If the home side thought they would be able to coast through to another three points, they had a rude reminder in the first half's final moments.  Another long ball released Pullman and with "only" Jack to beat - but it was Jack who superbly had the last laugh as he stood up long enough to force Pulman to drill his first shot into the keepers considerable frame, and as the ball ran loose, Jack again denied the Rams striker with a fine sprawling save.
 
The end of the first half certainly kick started the Rams, and just how they didn't pull at the very least a goal back - or for that matter even equalise - was a touch bewildering.  

Jack had to be at his bravest best to deny Pascal Ebigbo, and Pulman, before an amazing sequence of events on 51 minutes left everyone in the ground shell shocked. 

The ball was played back towards Jack on the edge of his box only for Pulman to just get to the ball before the keeper passing it past the Stones custodian, and as both men raced back towards the unguarded net, the ball took a "Maidstone" bounce away from the net.  Pulman though kept the ball in play and only a sensational block from Andrews and the chance had gone. 

Pulman, who worked tirelessly and magnificently throughout then almost seized on another moment of Maidstone defensive hesitation before drilling a shot beyond the despairing Jack only for the ball to thunder into the side netting.
 
Clearly rocked the Ryman League Division One South leaders needed the comfort of a fourth which would surely distinguish the Rams revival and courtesy of a charging run from Osborne, it duly arrived on 58 minutes. 

The veteran full back charged forward, and played a delightful through ball for Alex Waugh and the young striker duly drilled home his sixth goal in his last three games.
 
The stuffing was well and truly now knocked out of Ward's side, but to their eternal credit they kept plugging away, as chances came and went at both ends. 

Welford has a header cleared off the line by substitute Mitchell Sherwood, whilst Pulman fired over at the other end after being put under pressure from Andrews. 

Stones substitute Baff Addae thundered a drive just too high from an outrageous angle, before Rams substitue Joe Taylor prodded a shot inches wide of Jack's left post.
 
Ramsgate's misery was complete in the closing stages when skipper Liam Quinn was rather softly sent off for two yellow cards on 80 and 87 minutes - the second card shown for what appeared from distance to have been shown for nothing more than a shoulder charge.
 
Stones boss Saunders was in a thoughtful mood as he reflected his side’s performance that sees them go five points clear at the top of Ryman One South.
 
He said, "we started very well and we let them back in - great finish by Pully (Saunders played with Pulman at Margate) but we should have been able to deal with the first header - and after the break it took us some time again to find our feet again, but when we did on the chances we had we deserved the three points.  

“It was always going to be a tight game - derbies always are - and we knew what Ramsgate were going to do; they'll always ask questions of you, and overall I'm very pleased.

“You want us to come quick out of the block and when we do teams just can’t live with us especially with the pace that we've got in the side,  but we just switched off at the other end.

“Shaun's been superb for us this season. People keep going on about the goals that he's scored but if you talk to the boys they'll tell you about his all round play and his work rate. He’s a good lad in the dressing room and gets everyone up for it. And if you give him the service he will score goals."
 
When asked about the onslaught  his side endured at the start of the second half, Saunders revealed, "Believe it or not the first thing I said at half time with us 3-1 up is that don’t believe for a minute yet that this game is won!

“It was important that the first 15 minutes of the second half we do alright and we didn’t. I don’t know if it was tiredness or what it was but we just didn’t get going - they were always going to come flying out of the blocks. But once we got through that we settled it with another goal for Alex who’s on fire at the moment - six in his last three."

Given his problems in goal, Saunders was delighted to be able to have called upon a keeper with Jack's experience.  "Kelvin was great for us pre-season and he’s done us a real favour today. He'll only get better as he gets match fit, but he’s not far off again as he showed with the two great saves from Pulman just before half time and on top of that he's a great bloke to have in the dressing room - a real character."
 
"I've always said that we will get better as the season goes on. Lest face it there are only two players who were here last season, and I just think we'll get better every week. I do know that we'll be trying to keep it up!"

*Apologies to Ramsgate supporters, reaction from Jim Ward will follow later. 

Maidstone United:  Kelvin Jack, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Gavin Greenfield (James Abraham 82), Graeme Andrews (Sam Bewick 67), Danny Lye, Ellis Green (Baff Addae 76), Michael Phillips, Shaun Welford, Alex Waugh, Alex Flisher.
Subs:  Jay Saunders, James Pinnock

Goals:  Ellis Green 6, Shaun Welford 26, Alex Flisher 28, Alex Waugh 56

Booked:  Michael Phillips 70
  
Ramsgate:  Danny Tywman, Michael Yianni (Mitchell Sherwood), James Gregory, Luke Wheatley, Liam Quinn, Ben Laslett, Pascal Ebigbo, Simon Pettit (Warren Schulz 72), Mark Lovell, Ian Pulman, Steve O'Brien (Joe Taylor 72).
Subs:  Tom Chapman, David Parker

Goal: Ian Pulman 18

Booked:  Liam Quinn 80

Sent Off:  Liam Quinn 87
 
Attendance:  484
Referee:  Mr Simeon Potter (Sutton, Surrey)
Assistants:  Mr D Bandara & Mr Phil Rowley (Canterbury)