Previous play-off heartbreak spurs me on, says promotion chasing Trott

Wednesday 11th April 2007

After back-to-back championships that have seen them shoot from the Kent League into the Ryman Premier League in the space of two years, Ramsgate’s hopes for a third successive promotion bid ended on Easter Monday, writes Stephen McCartney.Danny Hockton’s header, his 37^th goal of the season, thirteen minutes from time, ensured their Thanet neighbours Margate collected all three points in front of a sun-kissed crowd of 1,676 at Hartsdown Park.

Whilst sixth placed Margate are just one point behind AFC Wimbledon, in that final play-off berth, eighth placed Rams are now six points adrift on the Dons – with only nine points up for grabs.

The Rams welcome Horsham, the side that clinched promotion with them last season, to Southwood Stadium on Saturday.

They then travel to Staines Town on 21^st April, before welcoming Walton & Hersham to their fortress on the last day of another good campaign.

Margate, meanwhile, must win their last three remaining games, starting with a trip to Chelmsford City on Saturday.

The big-spending Essex giants go into the showdown at Melbourne Park in second place in the Ryman Premier League table and are just one point behind league leaders, and their rivals, Billericay Town.

Margate end their campaign with Ashford Town (Middlesex) visiting Hartsdown Park on 21^st April before travelling to Hendon on the last day of the season – let’s hope their campaign extends to two more games in May!

But they will be hoping that Neil Cugley and his Folkestone Invicta side do them a favour by beating AFC Wimbledon at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday.

The south west Londoners end their campaign with games against Heybridge Swifts (home) and East Thurrock United (away) and stand in Margate’s way of hopefully returning into the Nationwide Conference South after a two year absence.

But after winning “The Battle of Thanet – part three” on Easter Monday, bouncing back from their embarrassing 2-2 draw at basement boys Slough Town, which was played on a terrible pitch at Windsor & Eton’s Stag Meadow, Margate are relishing their showdown in Essex on Saturday.

And player-manager Robin Trott, whose just celebrated his first anniversary at the helm, is desperate for his side to qualify for the end of season play-off lottery.

And the central defender doesn’t want to suffer another heartbreaking play-off defeat, like he did when he played for Billericay Town.

“We ended up second in the league when Yeading won it that season,” he recalled to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after Monday’s win.

“We had both games at home but we only played the first game at home as we got beaten.

“We had a great season that year, we was very disappointed not to go up.

“The hurt of that game really actually spurs me on because I don’t want to go through that again.”

And after knocking the Rams out of play-off contention, Hockton is relishing the big-game on Saturday.

“Chelmsford? Don’t come much easy as that does it?” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“That will really be a hard game. I mean, the players they’ve brought in, with the signing of (striker) Lee Boylan just shows you what sort of way they want to go.

“They want to win the league, their budget is a lot bigger than Margate’s but we’ve got the players.

“We’ve got a good squad now and I think we can go there and get a result.

“That’s what we need to do and hopefully we can get into the play-off’s.”

Ramsgate’s full-back Ashley Burton, 18, meanwhile, admitted Hockton’s goal has ended his side’s play-off hopes.

He said: “It was an even match I thought. Both teams kind of cancelled each other out.

“I think they had a lucky break down the left hand side and scored from it.”

Praising their management team of brothers Jim and Danny Ward, he added: “He’s been giving us encouragement saying that we’re good enough and (before their defeat at Margate) got a chance of getting into the play-off’s.

“That was our aim, probably a little bit out of our grasp now but Jim’s always encouraged us and we’ll push for the rest of the season.”

Just three years ago the club were playing in front of crowds under 150 in the Kent League and before the Easter holidays were pushing towards a place into the Nationwide Conference South.

“It’s amazing!” said the former England under 18 schoolboy captain. “A couple of years ago (we were) in the Kent League and now were 8^th in the Ryman Premier.

“Like Danny said after the match today, if you told most of the players that two years ago they would say “you’re joking Danny” – it shows great commitment from Danny and Jim, and it shows we’re good enough players as well.”

Speaking about their last three games, the former Gillingham youngster added: “We’ve got to win the last three matches and then you never know the results may go in our favour and we may just sneak that last place.”

Visit club websites:

www.margate-fc.com

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Chelmsford City v Margate
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 14^th April 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Melbourne Park Stadium, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2EH

Ramsgate v Horsham
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 14^th April 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, CT11 0AN