Kentish Football 
Ramsgate 3-1 Eastbourne Town - Rams manager Jim Ward hails heroic groundsman Martin Jeffreys
Saturday 04th December 2010
RAMSGATE 3-1 EASTBOURNE TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 4th December 2010
Peter Guise reports from Southwood Stadium
“He doesn’t score many but today he’s got three,” said Ramsgate manager Jim Ward after this rain lashed encounter at Southwood, “it was a fantastic performance.”
Hat-trick hero, Simon Pettit opened Ramsgate’s account after 20 minutes with a sizzler in this the only fixture in Kent to survive the freeze although freezing it certainly was not.
Martin Jeffreys, the Rams groundsman, along with his volunteers, worked wonders to get this match on.
On Friday night, with a snow covered pitch and sub zero temperatures, the temptation to have the match postponed was not given into.
“I had seen the weather forecast,” said Jeffreys, “the temperature was set to rise and rain was forecast so a decision was delayed until Saturday morning.”
Ward was mightily pleased that it was. “Martin’s efforts were just fantastic,” enthused the Ramsgate manager.
Top scorer, Mark Lovell came back into the Rams side and although some in the ground spoke of a hint of a deflection from Lovell on Pettit’s 52nd minute cross that eluded all to nestle in the back of the Eastbourne net, there was no denying the celebration of Pettit and the manager confirmed afterward that it was Pettit’s to claim.
Two minutes later, Lovell saw his shot acrobatically pushed over the bar by Eastbourne ‘keeper Thorp before Pettit completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes with a powerful downward header, a classic text book finish.
Ward brought on to two youngster’s 23 minutes from the end, Cliff and Amber replacing Axon and Beech. Both looked lively, adding fresh legs on a strength sapping pitch, indeed, George Amber was unlucky to see his late effort from the edge of the box rebound off the crossbar.
Eastbourne Town grabbed a late consolation when Cooper bundled home after a rare error from Smelt saw the Ramsgate ‘keeper spill Simmons free kick.
This was a solid performance from Ramsgate, Warren Schulz ran the midfield and Liam Quinn was dominant in defence.
This win takes Ramsgate to 12th in the Ryman League Division One South table.
Ramsgate: Jack Smelt, Mitchell Sherwood, Ryan Harker, Luke Wheatley, Liam Quinn, Ben Laslett, Aaron Beech (George Amber 67), Warren Schulz, Mark Lovell, Simon Pettit, Paul Axon (Sammy Cliff 67).
Attendance: 133
www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to thank BBC Radio Kent reporter Peter Guise for this match report - your editor was unable to cover the game as South Eastern Trains have been unable to run any train service from Tunbridge Wells for the past four days due to the snow.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd