Ramsgate 1-0 Margate - Fans turn on Trott after derby defeat

Full-back Ashley Burton scored his first goal of the season early in the second half to leave Margate with a mountain to climb.

Margate remain in tenth place following their 13^th league defeat of the season, which leaves them six points behind their neighbours, and a section of their fans chanted for the sacking of their player-manager Robin Trott following the final whistle.

But had Trott’s men taken numerous headed chances, then they would have gone on and won the game.

However, Ramsgate claimed the local bragging rights, and more importantly increased their chances of qualifying for the promotion play-off’s.

Both sides have only five league games left to play but knowing this division, anything can happen between now and April 26.

Ramsgate goalkeeper Shaun Allison has only conceded one goal in the four games that he’s replaced the suspended Paul Wilkerson.

The home grown nineteen-year-old has kept three clean sheets during that time but Margate should have tested him more.

A crowd of 1,210, the largest of the season at Southwood Stadium, had to wait until the 17^th minute for the game’s first chance.

Ramsgate almost grabbed the lead when Andy Hadden’s left-footed shot from 25-yards looped towards the top far corner but Scott Chalmers-Stevens was on hand to beat the ball away.

Another chance came the hosts way within two minutes when Warren Schulz’s free-kick was met by his younger brother Ollie, who glanced his header wide.

But Margate squandered their first chance of the game a minute later.

Striker James Pinnock cut in along the right by-line and whipped in a cross towards the far post and Jackson blazed his left-footed shot over from ten-yards out.

This signalled the start of Margate’s dominance and chance after chance went begging.

Ryan Martin’s hanging cross was met by striker Rob Haworth, who nipped in ahead of Alliston to send his towering header wide.

Haworth then glanced Ryan Peters’ header past the left-post from six-yards and Jay Saunders directed his shot past the right post following Jackson’s fourth corner of the game.

Ramsgate, however, almost stole the lead with eight first half minutes remaining.

Stuart Vahid latched onto Lee Minshull’s defence splitting pass and managed to get a shot from underneath his feet but Chalmers-Stevens pulled off a fine save to prevent Vahid scoring with his right-foot.

But the points were to be the Rams, with the goal timed at seven minutes and 23 seconds into the second half.

Minshull was released down the right on the counter attack and played the ball inside to Burton, who had joined the attack down that side.

Burton cut in and in an instant touched the ball onto his left foot and unleashed a left-footed curling shot, which looped over the goalkeeper and dropped into the top far corner from sixteen-yards.



DERBY DAY DELIGHT:  Margate goalkeeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens is beaten by Ashley Burton's (out of picture) left-footed curler.
Photograph Courtesy of www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Alliston grabbed the crossbar and swung from it in mid-air after he saw Saunders’ right-footed shot from 35-yards sail high above his crossbar.

Haworth’s third headed chance arrived in the 59^th minute but he sent Jackson’s corner over.

His fourth header was scrambled clear at the foot of the post and from Jackson’s resulting corner, Trott’s looping header dropped agonisingly over the crossbar.

But Trott should have equalised with 23 minutes remaining.

Ollie Schulz was booked for a crunching tackle on Haworth on the left-flank and after receiving treatment the Ramsgate defender was booked - one of seven players to do so by Sidcup referee, Mr Tony Mason.

Jackson whipped in a trademark left-footed free-kick which was met by Trott’s bullet header, but either side of Alliston would have flown into the net, but the goalkeeper was in the right place to make a comfortable save.

Pinnock headed another Jackson near-post set-piece past the post before Ramsgate almost doubled their lead with fourteen minutes left.

Dean Hill’s cross from the left channel was met by Ollie Schulz, whose scooping header from 12-yards brought a flying save from Chalmers-Stevens, diving to his left to catch the ball.

Saunders twice, one a left-footed shot, which flashed past the far post on the angle, and the other a glancing header from Haworth’s cross, failed to find the target and despite throwing bodies forward the Blues couldn’t get past a resilient Ramsgate side.

Whilst the Ramsgate fans were celebrating at the final whistle, a section of the Margate faithful, who watched the game in the stand and sang many abusive songs towards Rams boss Jim Ward, vented their frustrations out on Trott, wanting out!

Ramsgate: Shaun Alliston, Ashley Burton, Dean Hill, Nick Davis, Ollie Schulz, Dan Tanner, Andy Hadden, Warren Schulz, Lee Minshull, Stuart Vahid, Ben Laslett.
Subs: Lenny Piper, Dean Powell, Dan Dolton, Sam Jones, Steve Martin.

Goal: Ashley Burton 53

Booked: Ollie Schulz 66, Stuart Vahid 82

Margate: Scott Chalmers-Stevens, Ryan Peters, Richardo Josephs, Charley Side (Kieron Morris 81), Louis Smith, Robin Trott, Jimmy Jackson, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Rob Haworth, Ryan Martin.
Subs: Dan Young, Jake Eastwood, Roberto Corbishley, Matt Bowles.

Booked: Rob Haworth 23, Ryan Peters 27, Robin Trott 74, Kieron Morris 90, Richardo Josephs 90

Attendance: 1,210
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup)
Assistants: Mr Rob Baker (Maidstone) & Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks)