Ramsgate 3-0 Leatherhead - Quinn lays the foundations of comfortable Ramsgate Trophy win

Saturday 17th October 2009

RAMSGATE 3-0 LEATHERHEAD
FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round
Saturday 17th October 2009
Mike Green reports from Southwood Stadium

RAMSGATE comfortably moved into the second qualifying FA Carlsberg Trophy with an emphatic 3-0 win over Leatherhead at Southwood Stadium.

Boss Jim Ward, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk said afterwards, “It was never in doubt was it? That must be one of the most comfortable 3-0 wins that most of our supporters have seen for a long time.

“But we’re giving good entertainment at the moment - that’s eleven goals we’ve scored in the last three home games, so I suppose its pleased my chairman, we’ll take anybody here in the next round.”

And as usual the canny Scotsman was just about right as his side bossed and dominated a very poor Leatherhead team, who must have severe question marks over keeper Craig Bradshaw as fingers have to be pointed at the luckless keeper for two if not all of the three goals.

Yet is all started so well for Leatherhead as early as the third minute, when long haired Tommy Hutchings did brilliantly to get to the by-line and his pull back, which found Zak Graham was magnificent.

Graham’s first time drive seemed destined to the top right corner of the net but Sam Mott (in for the injured Pat Mullin) went full length to his right to tip the ball away and in hindsight break Leatherhead’s hearts as within a minute the home side were in front.

A long right-wing cross from Warren Schulz found Liam Quinn and the midfielder’s looping header somehow looped over Bradshaw (who was standing no more than a yard off his goal-line) and into the net.

With the tackles flying in and referee Mr Crysell seemingly without a yellow card in his pocket, both sides lost players through injury when on a “normal afternoon” both sides could have lost players to red cards.

The first half plodded on and on 24 minutes a poor clearances from Ramsgate fell to Hassan Nyang and his fine run was ended with a square ball to Kwabena Ageyi who could only shoot straight at the former Ebbsfleet United keeper.

At the other end substitute Luke Wheatley (on for the unlucky Ollie Gray) headed over from a corner and that was as good as the first half got!

The second half began almost exactly the same way as the first as the home side scored four minutes in.

A lobbed ball forward from Schulz found Mickelborough, who forced his way between central defenders Chris Bolter and Iain Hendry and as the ball dribbled towards the goal the Ramsgate number nine gently prodded the ball past a statuesque Bradshaw, leaving the defenders with bewildered looks on their faces!

If got no better for the visitors when on the hour Hutchings whipped in a free-kick from the right only for Ageyi flashed a header wide.

On 63 minutes came the miss that summed up Leatherhead’s afternoon and perhaps the game too!

Again, from a Hutchings free-kick, this time Hendy nodded down for Dean Gunner who did well to make room for himself but then just ten-yards out nearly sent the ball out of the ground.

The final nail into the Leatherhead coffin duly arrived within a minute.

Kenny Pratt, who worked tirelessly throughout, did well down the left but another woeful defensive clearance fell straight to Quinn, whose first time dipping shot flew into the top left hand corner of the net.

Some of the crowd again pointed fingers at Bradshaw, but to be fair to the Tanners keeper he would have had to do very well to get anywhere near Quinn’s marvellous effort.

Ramsgate continued their territorial domination but only had one good chance of any note in the remaining time and that saw Pratt fire in a low shot which Bradshaw fumbled and then grabbed as substitute Tom Tsangardies bore down on goal.

Afterwards manager Ward applauded the efforts of debut making Curtis Winnett saying, “You would never have known it was the lad’s first game for us. Overall I thought our midfield was excellent and the only reason that I took Quinny (Liam Quinn) off was because he was knackered after moving house this week, although he was desperate to stay on to get his hat-trick.”

The only thing that was missing indeed from the Ramsgate day was there manager’s usual buoyant goal celebrations.

“Truth is,” he said, “I’ve got a bad knee and couldn’t jump up and down.”

Ramsgate: Sam Mott, Andy Hadden, James Gregory, Jason Dolby, Ollie Gray (Luke Wheatley 30), Ben Laslett, Liam Quinn (Tom Tsangarides 75), Warren Schulz, Gary Mickelborough (Gary Lockyer 67), Kenny Pratt, Curtis Winnett.
Subs: Simon Pettit, Brett Mills.

Goals: Liam Quinn 4, 64, Gary Mickelborough 49

Booked: Luke Wheatley 62

Leatherhead: Craig Bradshaw, Jon Coke, Adam Goodwell, Chris Bolter, Iain Hendry, Hassan Nyang, Liam Cousins (Rob Stevenson 17), Dean Gunner, Kwabena Ageyi, Tommy Hutchings, Zak Graham (Greg Andrews 67).
Subs: Dan Dean.

Booked: Tommy Hutchings 36

Attendance: 198
Referee: Mr Adam Crysell (Braintree, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Michael Jarvis (Braintree, Essex) & Anthony Pope (Braintree, Essex)