Kentish Football 
Ryman Reports:
www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to wish our readers and clubs a very healty and succesful new year.
Ramsgate were 22 minutes away from a vital three points at Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels when a heavy downpour saw the game abandoned writes Ray Serrana.
ATROCIOUS: Saturday’s Kent derby between Tonbridge Angels and Ramsgate was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at the Betterview Longmead Stadium.
Photograph courtesy of www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk
Referee Stuart Butler had no real choice – though he escaped having to tell Jim Ward he was calling the game off with the Rams boss sunning himself in Madeira.
Surely, few refs would have relished telling Wardy his team's 2-0 lead was going to count for nothing.
Maidstone whistler Butler declared the pitch safe to start the second half after a half time pitch inspection, but when the downpour continued the ball was stopping dead in standing water.
It's a big blow for Ramsgate, who looked set to put their recent away troubles behind them, and an even bigger shame for centre-half Will Graham whose fantastic 25-yarder that opened the scoring on six minutes will no longer count.
His goal stunned Longmead and he probably stunned himself, too, because it was some goal to beat Tonbridge ‘Keeper Aaron Kerr. Unfortunately, an ankle injury forced Graham off a few minutes later.
Tonbridge midfielder Robert Kember got permission for an early bath by after collecting two yellow cards and the home side's nightmare half continued when Alex O'Brien put the ball in his own net from Lee Minshull's header, a minute from half-time.
There was no real action in the 2nd half before referee halted play.
So its disappointment for Thanet side as the game will have to be replayed at a later date and more back luck as Ollie Schulz suspension will not count for this game, as it was not completed, therefore he is set to miss the game with AFC Wimbledon this Saturday.
Ramsgate: Paul Wilkerson, Ashley Burton, Dean Hill, Liam Morris, Simon Pettit, Will Graham (James Gregory 12 ), Michael Yianni, Warren Schulz, Shaun Welford, Lee Minshull , A Edusei (Stuart Vahid) Subs: Mark Munday, Mo Takaloo, and Gavin Schulz.
Margate 1-0 Folkestone Invicta
Saturday 30th December 2006
Folkestone Invicta can consider themselves unfortunate to lose 1-0 away to new league leaders Margate in their last match of 2006 in a game seriously affected by the appalling weather, writes Richard Murrill.
The swirling wind and rain made conditions almost farcical, particularly during the second half, and Margate’s basic Hartsdown Park ground is one of the league’s most supporter unfriendly in such circumstances.
Midfielder Jay Saunders scored the all-important goal when he headed in a 73rd minute corner, while Invicta hit the crossbar through Damian Abel during the first half and the post through James Everitt in the closing minutes.
Margate will be delighted to have taken all three points in such circumstances as they returned to the top of the Ryman Premier League table in front of a 799 crowd.
Injury-hit Invicta went into the game without captain Adam Flanagan, Samuel Kola Okikiolu (unavailable), Luke Howell, Paul Jones and Mark Saunders (back) but did have centre forward Ellis Remy back to face one of his many former clubs after a recent calf injury.
The home side had the strong wind in their favour during the first half as Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell’s clearances struggled to reach the half way line due to the conditions and the visitors’ defence found their balls forward flying back towards them.
Margate won the game’s first corner in the fourth minute when a 20-yard strike from Jimmy Jackson was touched over the crossbar by Kessell.
Saunders had to temporarily leave the field with a nosebleed early on and the game’s eventual match winner returned with a number-less and bloodless shirt.
A header from player-manager Robin Trott was blocked following a Jackson corner from the right after 12 minutes and Jackson himself shot over at the far post five minutes later when Justin Skinner found James Pinnock down the left.
Top goalscorer Danny Hockton headed over after 19 minutes, but Margate had not opened the floodgates which many had expected from this game.
James Corbett hit a low shot at Margate goalkeeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens when Abel played the ball across from the right after 28 minutes with Invicta’s first attempt on goal.
And the visitors had the best moment of the first half when striker Abel shot against the crossbar after 36 minutes in a counter attack also involving Corbett and Remy.
Abel and Margate left back Skinner were then booked following a flare up six minutes later.
Margate replaced injured centre half Pat Sappleton with Jason Donovan at half time as it was their turn to play into the wind.
Inivcta centre half Roy Guiver was booked for a foul after 56 minutes as conditions deteriorated on an afternoon when other matches were abandoned.
A Paul Lamb free kick was headed out for Invicta’s first corner of the game after 64 minutes.
But Margate broke the deadlock with the second of consecutive corners from captain Lee Protheroe on the left when Saunders got up to head home.
Abel tried his luck from the left hand edge of the penalty area after 83 minutes and Invicta were desperately close to an equaliser two minutes later when James Everitt beat his man inside the penalty area and rattled the post.
After the final whistle Margate’s Greg Oates described the conditions as, “Absolutely atrocious. I’d say the worse I’ve ever played in. But we dug in, got a 1-0 win which we’d rather that than it be called off and have to play it again.”
Manager Robin Trott reflected on how neither side had taken advantage of playing with the wind. But on Margate’s second half performance, he told www.margate-fc.com: “We came out second half and we played the ball. How we played the ball I’ll never know, because you couldn’t even stand up in it (the wind). But yes, we played well in the second half. When the ball’s on the ground, we can play and I’m glad we showed it in the second half.”
On ending 2006 at the top of the table, Trott acknowledged it was a good situation to be in, but also said, “It is still early but we’re half way through the season and I’m obviously pleased how it’s going at the moment. The amount of games we’ve won has been excellent, since I’ve been in charge with Mick (Flanagan).”
MARGATE: Chalmers-Stevens, Oates, Skinner, Protheroe, Sappleton (Donovan 45), Trott, Abbott, Saunders, Pinnock, Hockton, Jackson. Subs: Mitten, Standen, Smith, Dolton.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, Guiver, Friend, Corbett, M. Everitt, Abel, Remy, Sly (Neilson 83), J. Everitt. Subs: M. Towse, Chandler, Rainbow, G. Towse.
Attendance: 799.
Saturday 30th December 2006
Dover Athletic 2-0 Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne’s second Christmas game ended in defeat by 2-0 to Dover Athletic meaning that they have failed to win in December and dropped to seventh in the league, writes Peter Pitts.
However, if this position in the table was offered at the beginning of the season I think that most Sittingbourne fans would have accepted it…and they are still only one point off a play off place and with games in hand over some of the clubs above them.
Sittingbourne brought back Clint Gooding in the starting line up but Kieran Marsh sat this one out having not recovered from the injury suffered in the Maidstone game.
The teams had to contend with atrocious conditions of gusting wind and driving rain making good football almost impossible.
The game started a little tetchy and on the quarter hour referee Mr Meilack spoke to both captains in an attempt to quiet things down, to this point neither side had seriously troubled the opposing goalkeeper.
The midfield stalemate continued until the 38th minute when a 20 yard effort by Dover’s man of the match Jon Wallis brought out a magnificent diving save from Sittingbourne’s man of the match Steve Williams.
Just before this Wallis, who was probably playing his last match for Dover as the on loan man is wanted by Conference outfit Dagenham & Redbridge, had lobbed the ball on the top of the Brickies bar.
The game looked to be heading for a 0-0 halftime when James Rogers burst into the Brickies area and had his shot turned away by Williams but the assistant referee Mr Finnigan momentarily put his flag up and then down again.
Mr Meilack went over to talk to him and after the discussion awarded Dover a penalty, apparently for a challenge on Rogers as he shot. A very harsh looking decision. To rub salt into Sittingbourne’s wounds up stepped ex Brickie Bradley Spice to take the spot kick and although Williams got a hand to the ball he couldn’t stop it from hitting the stanchion and bouncing into the net.
Dover could have extended their lead inside one minute of the new half if Williams hadn’t saved a Craig Wilkins shot with his legs.
Dover then took hold of the game and Williams pulled off two more good saves in the space of two minutes from Spice and Wallis respectively.
The players were now slipping all over the place as the rain continued to pour down.
On 72 minutes Dover made the game theirs as a cross to the Sittingbourne near post evaded a number of bodies until Craig Wilkins got his head to it and the ball flew into the net for Dover’s second.
Sittingbourne had seldom been able to muster a shot but this was put right on 78 minutes when substitute Jon Neal had an effort that was comfortably held by Dover’s keeper Glen Knight.
A minute later Knight made another comfortable catch this time from a James Campbell header.
Sittingbourne were pushing forward but with the heavy pitch sapping energy they were leaving gaps at the back and on 88 minutes a through ball to Byron Walker ended in a shot and a fantastic one handed save from Williams. From the corner Toby Ashmore was on hand to kick the ball off the line.
Two minutes later Wallis broke clear and found Walker but Tristan Knowles had tracked the Dover substitute and made a last gasp saving tackle.
Sittingbourne’s next match, Saturday against Tommy Sampson’s Horsham YMCA, takes on an increased importance as Horsham are just above them in the league and a win will put the Brickies back on the promotion trail.
Dover Athletic: Knight, Browne, Rogers, Bourne, Cloke (Humphrey 84), Chapman, Wallis, Spiller, Wilkins, Spice (Walker 69), Keister, Subs: Chase, Quinn, Smith
Sittingbourne : Williams, Ashmore, Dowley, Ainsworth, Searle (Knowles 59), Campbell, Browning, Gooding (Neal 52), Lovell, Hockey, Sherwood (Akhazzan 63), Subs: Spiller, Willis
Attendance: 852
Tuesday 26th December 2006
Sittingbourne 1-1 Maidstone United
Sittingbourne at last got their Christmas / New year programme up and running but at the price of a suspected broken leg for leading scorer Andy Doerr after a shocker of a challenge from Lee Shearer, writes Peter Pitts.
Maidstone’s physical approach became apparent early on when a stray elbow struck Paul Ainsworth in the eye necessitating his substitution. Kieran Marsh also suffered as his ankle ballooned up and he was substituted on 40 minutes.
The division’s second best crowd of the day, 606, witnessed a game with few shots on target from either side and one that seldom reached any great heights.
There were two red cards, one for each side, Steve Searle being Sittingbourne’s culprit after kicking out on 81 minutes when tempers became frayed. There were also three yellow cards to each side, most being given out by referee Mr Hatzidakis in the final quarter hour of the game.
The pitch played surprisingly well, although that is of course a spectators view of the game and not a players!
Maidstone started the brighter of the two sides with Sittingbourne being outmuscled in mid-field.
They took the lead from their first shot at goal when on 6 minutes a ball into the Sittingbourne area was headed onto Simon Austin who nodded it past Williams.
Maidstone tried to build on this early lead but even though enjoying midfield dominance were being stopped by the resolute Brickies defence before getting near Williams.
In fact it was Sittingbourne who came closest to scoring when on 17 minutes Doerr’s cross sailed over Jon Neal’s head in the Stones area but found Browning who headed straight at Stones keeper Pat Mullin when a glance to either side would have come up trumps.
Just before this Ainsworth had to leave the field after the elbow in the eye, James Campbell replacing him.
Maidstone continued to come forward well but again it was Sittingbourne who came close to scoring and Doerr’s near post header from a corner was kicked off the line by Nathan Paul.
A minute later Doerr passed back to Campbell but he couldn’t get hold of his shot properly and the ball went wide.
On 41 minutes a Sittingbourne free kick found Jon Neal who hit the side netting, and almost on half time Errison Ahwan had a free kick on the edge of the Brickies area bounce of the Brickies defensive wall.
Nine minutes into the second half the Stones won a free kick just outside the area and again the defensive wall did their job and blocked the shot.
On 67 minutes Nick Hegley for the Stones took advantage of a defensive slip and only a magnificent last ditch challenge by Joe Dowley saved the day. Dowley was in action again just after, this time heading away a dangerous cross that looked to be going to an unmarked Stones forward.
Then came Shearer’s crunching challenge on Doerr that led to the red card. This meant that both sides were down to ten men, Sittingbourne already having used up their three substitutions.
Sittingbourne were again close to equalising when on 79 minutes a long Lee Hockey throw caused havoc in the Stones area culminating in Lee Browning having a shot cleared off the line.
Tempers were frayed and a sly kick by Steve Searle was spotted by the referee who showed a second red card.
The game was two minutes into injury time when the ball was cleared to the edge of the Stones area where Mark Lovell latched on to it only for him to have his legs taken by a Ryan Royston tackle. Mr Hatzidakis had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Lovell had missed his last two penalties but he wasn’t about to miss this one and Sittingbourne deservedly claimed a point.
Sittingbourne: Williams, Ashmore, Dowley, Ainsworth (Campbell 12), Searle, Marsh (Knowles 40), Browning, Hockey, Neal (Lovell 69), Doerr, Sherwood, Subs: Gooding, Willis.
Maidstone United: Mullin, Paul, Barton, Shearer, Ahwan, Royston, Tydeman (Roser 59 ), Lacey, Austin (Tiesse 62), Rowland, Hegley, Subs: Overton, Rice, Sperring
Whyteleafe 1-1 Ashford Town
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December 2006
A second half equaliser from Simon Glover ensured Ashford maintained their recent run of good form to grab a point in the relegation six pointer at Whyteleafe, writes Will Sun.
After a first half where Ashford Town enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, they somehow found themselves a goal down at the break when a high cross from the right was allowed to bounce by goalkeeper Whincup before it was bundled into the net.
Although Ashford fought back in the second half, and were unlucky not to take all three points after Glover headed in his first since returning to the club on 64 minutes.
Ashford boss John Cumberbatch was given the luxury of naming an unchanged side from the victory over Dulwich for the Boxing Day encounter, which despite the early kick-off time attracted just 67 paying supporters.
Town started the brighter of the two sides, as they bought the confidence and belief of Saturday’s result into this crucial basement battle.
Whyteleafe’s defence, marshalled by tall and commanding centre back Danny Arkwright, was put under pressure immediately from Allman’s free kick, that was met by the head of Marc Cumberbatch into goalkeeper Cootes’ arms.
However with 18 minutes on the clock the home side breached the Ashford Town defence when Leon McDowall sailed in a high cross that wasn’t cleared, to leave Danny Platel to bundle the ball home from a yard.
Ashford then upped the ante, and the small travelling contingent were left wondering how Matt Carruthers didn’t add to his tally of 26 career goals for the club when he blazed over after Fenwick and the ever-impressive Matata had combined.
Matata again was at the forefront of another Ashford attack moments later, latching onto Fenwick’s flick on and beating Arkwright for pace before he was hauled down by the Leafe captain.
However, the referee deemed Arkwright to have sufficient support around him not to pull out the red card, and gave a caution and a free kick that Allman squandered.
A wayward header from defender Oliver Barrett came close to levelling proceedings, as he failed to clear Jarrett-Elliott’s corner and headed inches past the near post.
On-loan Tonbridge midfielder Drew Watkins was bought off shortly after the interval through injury, leaving Luke Coleman to come on as part of a three-pronged Ashford Town attack.
And it was the other two of the trio of strikers who had golden opportunities to draw their side level. Firstly Walid Matata ran through the home defence but for Cootes to pull out an impressive save - a feat that he eclipsed from the rebound when he tipped Fenwick’s shot wide.
Although from the resultant corner Jarrett-Elliott whipped in a ball that was firstly cleared, only for the second cross to find Glover at the back post who headed in unchallenged.
Manager Cumberbatch ordered his side to settle for the point for fear of a freak breakaway goal from the Leafe, leaving his side to pick up four points from a possible six from the Christmas period.
Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Anthony Allman, Simon Glover, Tom Adlington, Marc Cumberbatch, Kevin Lott, Drew Watkins (Luke Coleman 62), Matt Carruthers, Walid Matata, George Fenwick, Ken Jarrett-Elliott.
Subs: Ian Ross, Nick Fenwick, Joe Hitchings, Jamie Leggett
Attendance: 129
Ashford Town 1-0 Dulwich Hamlet
Saturday 23rd December 2006
John Cumberbatch registered his first win as Ashford Town manager with a superb victory over top of the league Dulwich Hamlet in a Christmas cracker at the Homelands, writes Will Sun.
Fenwick exploited returning goalkeeper Simon Overland’s inability to deal with crosses by muscling his way past him to head Jarrett-Elliott’s corner midway through the first half.
Ashford Town made two changes from the side that lost to Tooting & Mitcham, with Kevin Lott making his first start for the club to replace Ian Ross, and Drew Watkins coming in for the suspended Thorogood at right midfield.
At the back Simon Glover started on the left of a four man defence, with Allman at right back.
Newly contracted player Joe Hitchings could once again only find a place on the bench, whilst Adam O’Neill ended his loan spell to go back to Tonbridge Angels.
For league leaders Dulwich ex-Ashford man Simon Overland started between the sticks, although with just 21 minutes gone the tall goalkeeper was already picking the ball out of the net.
Jarrett-Elliott’s deep cross was hit by Drew Watkins at the back post, forcing keeper Overland to fumble behind for a tame corner. Jarrett-Elliott then beautifully whipped in an inswinging corner for Fenwick, who got in front of Overland to head home from close range.
And the Ashford Town pressure continued after the goal. Jarrett-Elliott again continued to be at the centre of all things good for Town, and could have doubled the lead himself but for a great covering tackle from Justin Roberts.
At the other end Dulwich’s David Moore had a shot cleared off the line by Tom Adlington, with Phil Williams blasting the rebound over from two yards with the goal at his mercy.
And the pressure on the Dulwich goal didn’t relent in the second half, with Overland again making a complete mess of a simple free-kick before Fenwick squandered the rebound.
As the game wore on the league leaders tried to up the ante, but for all their pressure they couldn’t find a way through a tight and well-organised Ashford defence.
League top-scorer Chris Dickson, who has already netted 17 goals for his club, saw his header fly wide of Whincup’s post with ten minutes to go in a rare opportunity for the visitors.
In fact it was the rejuvenated Ashford side who looked the more likely, with Matata posing a constant threat with his pace, skill and determination.
The former Dover man set Fenwick up just before the end but the chance went begging, although the miss was soon forgotten as the full time whistle blew to mark Cumberbatch’s first win as sole Ashford boss.
Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Anthony Allman, Simon Glover, Tom Adlington, Marc Cumberbatch, Kevin Lott, Drew Watkins (Joe Hitchings 82), Matt Carruthers, Walid Matata, George Fenwick, Ken Jarrett-Elliott.
Subs: Ian Ross, Luke Coleman, Jamie Leggett
Dulwich Hamlet: Simon Overland, Lewis Tozer, Gavin Dayes (Nicolas Plumain
82), Justin Roberts, Jamie Coyle, Jake Daniel, David Moore, Kenny Beaney,
Shaun Beveney, Chris Dickson, Phil Williams (Daniel Jones 67).
Subs: Cedric Meeko, Jason Turley, Billy Warner.
Attendance: 210
Erith & Belvedere 1-0 Erith Town
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December 2006
A training ground routine executed to perfection resulted in the only goal of the game in a scrappy local derby at Park View Road on Boxing Day, writes Thomas Hawes.
Paul Gorman’s men came into the game having not played a full-game since securing top spot in their League Cup group on 5th December when they beat Faversham Town 2-0 and therefore the Deres slow start to the game was understandable.
Their opponents Erith Town, the basement boys of the Kent League, always prove to be trickier customers than league position would suggest and this game was no exception as Erith Town took control of the game in midfield with some robust play.
Yet, Erith Town failed to create many chances for all their domination and couldn’t penetrate a Deres defence featuring only one recognised central defender in Tom Maycock – who had recently been occupying a midfield role.
The away side’s robust and uncompromising style saw Deres wing-back Vinny Durrant hacked down on the by-line before being bundled into the wall of the Welling Stand along with referee Mr S Hughes. Durrant was understandably in agony and didn’t return to the game until ten minutes after the incident.
With the full compliment of players returned to the Deres, they began to threaten the Dockers goal more in the second half of the first period.
A number of crosses from Darryl Wilson on the right and a combination of Mark Nougher and Adrian Deane on the left were causing Erith Town all sorts of problems but it was a set piece that would break the deadlock.
The Deres were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after 36 minutes of the first half had elapsed. Deane and Nougher stood over the ball for Erith & Belvedere and everyone in the ground was expecting a first-time shot or a cross.
The deadly duo, however, had other ideas. Deane rolled the ball to Nougher as if he was setting him up to fire the ball at goal first time. Instead Nougher took a touch before laying the ball off to Deane who found himself unmarked 18 yards out and in acres of space.
Deane took a touch to get the ball out of his feet before firing the ball through the crowd of players and into the top corner of the net leaving Wilson in the Dockers goal no chance of making a save.
Erith & Belvedere dominated the remainder of the first half but Erith Town held firm to go into the interval a goal behind, somewhat unfairly on the balance of play.
Similarly to the first half, the game was a scrappy affair with lots of bookings and virtually no attempts on target.
Matt Bedford had a tame shot saved by Wilson after 66 minutes, whilst at the other end Erith Town went close with a header at the back post after Deres keeper Neil Murray found himself in no-man’s land.
Veteran striker Micky Collins came on for the home side for the last twenty minutes and impressed with a mazy 30 yard run but he couldn’t execute the final ball to strike partner Steve White.
Erith & Belvedere: Murray, Bedford, Durrant, Deane, Crawley, Maycock, Wilson, Johnson, McTaggart (Collins 72), White (capt.), Nougher.
Subs: Anderson, Diggins, Hardie.
Erith Town: Wilson, Lover, Edwards, Votier, Hynes, Taylor (Cassius 82), Douglas (Lee 61), Hanlon (capt.), Tompkins, Kenyon (Obamwonyi 68), Hackett.
Subs: Bryant, Garnett
Attendance: 166
Ramsgate 1-1 Margate
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December 2006
The Rams' biggest crowd of the season so far (1,762) watched the first competitive League game between the two sides for 33 years and saw the home side come from behind to take a point from a game they will feel they ought to have won.
Jim Ward’s men were unchanged from the side that won against Staines Town on Saturday, while Margate made two changes from the side that drew with Ashford at the weekend.
Margate got off to a promising start and went ahead in the 4th minute thanks to a cheeky 30 yard lob from Jimmy Jackson, the former Gravesend man's dipping shot catching former team-mate Paul Wilkerson off his line and went under the bar in the far corner of the Ramsgate net.
Ramsgate responded well after the early goal and had some great opportunities to level the score before half time. Both Michael Yianni and Lee Minshull had shots that went wide of Scott Chalmers–Stevens' posts. A long throw into box at the other end by Margate saw Paul Abbott's low strike well held by Wilkerson.
Ramsgate did eventually put the ball in the net, thanks to Shaun Welford's powerful header, but referee Paul Andrews had already blown the whistle for some pushing in the box and it was disallowed. Moments later, Jay Saunders fouled the Rams' new boy Akwasi Edusei on the edge of the box, Yianni's resulting free kick being saved by Chalmers–Stevens.
A rare Dean Hill slip saw the ball deflect to Margate’s leading scorer, Danny Hockton, who ran free on goal to go one-on–one with Wilkerson, but did not add to the 21 goals he has already amassed this season as his shot went wide.
The second half started quieter for both teams and Margate were force to make a substitution after the hour mark, when Steve McKimm went off injured and was replaced by local lad Daniel Dolton. Five minutes later and Ramsgate made their first change of the game, when Simon Pettit replaced Edusei, with the home side were starting to win the midfield battle, the Rams equalising in the 67th minute thanks to captain Warren Schulz.
It was a great ball from Minshull to Pettit, who then passed to Schulz, whose low shot slipped easily to Chalmers–Stevens' right. It was a great team goal which Ramsgate truly deserved.
Ten minutes later Hockton had a great chance to put Margate ahead when he broke down the left with just Wilkerson to beat, but his shot was soberly saved and pushed round the post by the 'keeper.
James Gregory replaced Mo Takaloo and squandered a great chance to score after a Welford flick put him through.
At the other end a Dolton shot lacked confidence and went wide of the post as both sets of players tried to look for a winning goal, however it was not to be as Referee Andrews blew for full time the end this historic local derby.
After the game, Rams' boss Jim Ward spoke to www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk and confirmed: "It was the expected outcome from the bookies - the best home form Ramsgate, the best away form Margate in the League - it had draw written all over it but what an exciting game of football, both sides were a credit to their clubs.
“I thought it was a great game, a great advert for the Ryman Premier League and I think we'll shut a load of critics up today about the style of play that Ramsgate use - we got the ball down and I thought we out-passed Margate all day long.
“I thought Lee Minshull was the best player on the park, I thought he controlled the game from the middle of midfield.
“At one stage I wanted to put him as centre-forward but I couldn't afford to take him out of midfield, as soon as I said I was going to move him 'round he started the move that Warren Schulz finished off superbly for the goal.
“My 'keeper had one save to make when Hockton got through one against one and their 'keeper was busy all day long, so it's two points dropped as far as I'm concerned."Ramsgate: Paul Wilkerson, Ashley Burton, Dean Hill, Lee Minshull, Ollie Schulz, Will Graham, Michael Yianni, Warren Schulz, Shaun Welford, Mo Takaloo (James Gregory 70), Akwasi Edusei (Simon Pettit 63). Subs: Mark Munday, Liam Morris and Stuart Vahid.
Chatham Town 2-3 Dartford
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December 2006
The Darts took the three points from this lively Kent derby, however Chatham will feel that they deserved a point for their efforts, writes Neil Sanders.
Ex-Chat Brendon Cass hit the woodwork for the Darts in the 4th minute and at the other end Chats went close with Wayne Brown flicking on Rob Goodger's long throw for Rob Denness to volley inches over.
Dartford took the lead after 15 minutes, Jay May firing home from 18 yards after Cass's shot had been blocked.
James Tedder tipped over a lob from Denness and a penalty appeal from the visitors in the 33rd minute was correctly turned down when Tom Binks blocked a cross.
Chatham equalised on the stroke of half time when Danny Larkin volleyed home through a crowd of players, after the Darts defence had failed to clear from a free kick.
Dartford scored twice in the space of a couple of minutes after the break. Lew Watts tapped in from close range after a goalmouth scramble, and Ryan Hayes converted a penalty after Tyran James was adjudged to have brought down Dave Martin.
Chats were not finished and boss Phil Miles made a good call to bring on Luke Harvey as a third striker on the hour mark and it almost paid off immediately.
The front three combined well with a strong run from Denness and low cross from Harvey being cut out at the near post by Tommy Osborne, as Mark Brooks slid in.
Chatham pulled a goal back with 14 minutes remaining when Rob Denness finished from close range after Wayne Brown's header from Darren Smith's corner had hit the bar.
Chats applied the pressure in the closing minutes and Dartford were left hanging on, even after Mark Brooks was dismissed following a second yellow card.
Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks (Harvey 61), Goodger, Larkin, Brown, Best (Lyons 71), Smith, Brooks, Davey, Denness, James. Subs: Boyle, King, Winter-Nolan.
Attendance 353.
Folkestone Invicta 0-2 Tonbridge Angels
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December 2006
Folkestone Invicta suffered a third successive home defeat when they went down 2-0 against fellow Kent side Tonbridge Angels in front of a 474 crowd in the Ryman Premier League at the Buzzlines Stadium on Boxing Day afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.
Fraser Logan opened the scoring for the visitors in the 42nd minute and Nick Barnes made it 2-0 after 62 minutes.
Invicta went into the game without injured trio Adam Flanagan, Paul Jones and Ellis Remy, with James Corbett coming back into the starting line up alongside Damian Abel in attack and Liam Friend starting on the left hand side of the defence, with Paul Lamb alongside Kevin Watson and Samuel Kola Okikiolu at the heart of the defence.
Tonbridge won the game’s first corner in the seventh minute when leading goalscorer Jon Main shrugged off Okikiolu and hit a spectacular strike which had goalkeeper Tony Kessell back-peddling before he got up to make a save.
Invicta were close themselves a minute later when 19-year-old Ben Sly ran at the Tonbridge defence and shot just wide of the post from outside the penalty area.
Logan fired over from the edge of the box for Tonbridge after ten minutes when Main touched the ball into his path and Barnes shot over from the edge of the penalty area on the quarter of an hour mark when Anthony Storey played the ball up to Main on the right hand edge of the box.
For Invicta, captain Micheal Everitt sent in a dangerous cross from the right hand flank after 19 minutes and Sly hit a dipping shot over the bar from outside the penalty area four minutes later when he dispossessed Robbie Kember.
James Everitt then did well down the right hand side and put in a dangerous low cross after 27 minutes.
Tonbridge threatened again when Kessell came out to save from Logan after a ball over the Invicta defence in the 35th minute and Michael Power shot wide with the chance of the game thus far a minute later when a defensive clearance was charged down.
Corbett tried his luck with a chip over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area after 39 minutes.
But Tonbridge went ahead just before half time when Logan turned the ball in at the far post from Main’s right wing cross after Power had played the ball out wide.
And Barnes made it 2-0 after the interval when he tapped the ball in from virtually on the goal line after Power and Main had combined to dink the ball over to him and over Kessell from the right hand side of the penalty area.
Main shot into the side netting after 67 minutes when Logan played him in down the left hand channel of the penalty area.
Invicta struggled to make in-roads during the second half and Tonbridge’s Barnes shot wide from outside the penalty box after 88 minutes.
Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, Okikiolu, Friend, J. Everitt, M. Everitt, Abel, Corbett, Saunders, Sly (Neilson 64). Subs: Chandler, Guiver, Rainbow, Stonebridge.
Tonbridge Angels: Kerr, Powell, Gooding, Kember (Parkes 90), Aris, Beales, Barnes, Storey, Power (Maxwell 83), Main (Piscina 90), Logan. Subs: Green, Martin.
Attendance: 474.
Horsham 2-2 Folkestone Invicta
Saturday 23rd December 2006
Second half goals from Mark Saunders and Damian Abel gave Folkestone Invicta a share of the spoils as they came back from 2-0 down at half time to draw 2-2 away to third-placed Horsham in their last match before Christmas, writes Richard Murrill.
Having thrown away a 2-0 lead in their previous match at home to Carshalton, this was a rousing response by Neil Cugley’s side as they provided their travelling supporters with some festive cheer after a barnstorming second half revival.
Things were looking bleak for Invicta as Horsham struck twice in three minutes around the quarter of an hour mark through centre half Kevin Hemsley and centre forward Carl Rook.
But in a proverbial game of two halves, Invicta responded from the start of the second half and were level within 20 minutes of the re-start as they attacked down the slope.
Saunders (back) had been an injury doubt before the game, but the former Gillingham midfielder launched himself in the middle to head home Ben Sly’s ball in when James Everitt played the ball back from the right after 50 minutes.
And Abel made it 2-2 after 64 minutes when he tapped the ball in from close range after substitute James Corbett had dispossessed Hemsley in the penalty area and played a low ball in from the left hand side.
With Adam Flanagan and Paul Jones both out injured, Invicta welcomed back centre half Samuel Kola Okikiolu and centre forward Ellis Remy who had both re-signed for the club from East Thurrock United in midweek having been released by the Folkestone club due to financial constraints in November.
But it was Horsham who made the early running on their big pitch as Gary Charman curled a shot just wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area when Nigel Brake played the ball down the left in the fifth minute.
Rook then headed wide at the far post seven minutes later from former Invicta player Stuart Myall’s deep ball in from the left after the game’s first corner had come back out.
And Hemsley opened the scoring from close range in the 15th minute with his first goal of the season after John Westcott’s corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Rook.
It was 2-0 just two minutes later when Horsham spread the play from right to left and one-time Invicta target Rook headed in Brake’s cross.
Invicta won their first corner after 19 minutes when Abel called home goalkeeper Alan Mansfield into action at his near post following a move involving Remy, Sly and captain Micheal Everitt.
But Jacob Mingle was close for Horsham in the middle a minute later when Brake played the ball in from the left again after Liam Friend had sliced a Myall cross from the right.
Remy’s second Invicta debut came to an early end when he limped off on the half hour mark to be replaced by Corbett.
And one-time Blackburn player Corbett was soon in the action as he shot wide from the right hand side of the box after a move involving Okikiolu, Abel and Sly.
Paul Lamb sent over a dangerous hanging corner from the right for Invicta to Abel at the far post after 35 minutes but the ball went out for a goal kick.
And Horsham were themselves close a minute later when Rook lobbed over from just outside the penalty area after Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell had raced out to deny Lewis Taylor when Mingle broke and slid a great low ball through.
Saunders headed wide for Inivcta after 40 minutes when Kevin Watson played a free kick over to the far post.
Invicta made a tactical switch for the second half, with Friend switching to left back and Lamb moving into the heart of the defence alongside Watson and Okikiolu.
And the visitors were desperately close within a minute of the re-start when Watson whipped across a dangerous free kick from the left just in front of both Saunders in the middle and Friend at the far post after Myall had brought down Friend.
A Watson corner from the left was met by Micheal Everitt after 49 minutes as Inivcta made a purposeful start to the second half and Saunders’ goal a minute later brought the visitors right back into the game.
Invicta threatened again after 51 minutes when Abel turned Horsham captain Eddie French but the attack came to nothing as the striker was crowded out.
It was now all Invicta as Horsham goalkeeper Mansfield had to race out to concede a corner after 63 minutes when Watson’s ball forward put Abel through.
And Corbett soon capitalised on Hemsley’s error to set up Abel for Invicta’s equaliser.
Horsham had offered very little during the opening half hour of the second half but rallied for the final quarter of an hour.
The home side had a gilt-edged chance to restore their lead after 75 minutes when Charman hit the post from close range with a glaring close range miss when Lee Carney threaded the ball through to Westcott down the right hand side of the box and the latter played a low ball across goal.
But Invicta might have taken all three points when Corbett headed at Mansfield in stoppage time after Abel had played the ball across from the left.
Martin Chandler came on as a late substitute for Sly (hip) for his first appearance back in Invicta colours after a spell at Hythe Town.
Horsham: Mansfield, Myall, Brake, French, Hemsley, Taylor, Mingle, Westcott (Rummery 75), Rook, Carney (Goncalves 85), Charman. Subs: Graves, Geard, Frankland.
Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, Okikiolu, Friend, J. Everitt, M. Everitt, Abel, Remy (Corbett 29), Saunders, Sly (Chandler 85). Subs: Neilson, Guiver, Stonebridge.
Attendance: 488.
Chatham Town 0-1 Horsham YMCA
Chatham controlled the bulk of possession in the first quarter but were unable to trouble the YMCA keeper, writes Neil Sanders.
Mark Brooks had some success on the right and gave the opposing defence a hard time, whilst Tyran James on the left had Chats closest first half effort with a right foot shot after cutting inside.
At the other end Andy Otley forced the only save of the first period from John Whitehouse.
The game opened up more after the break and a Paul Robinson style miskick from YMCA keeper Dean Ruddy required the help of Glen Woodburn to prevent Luke Harvey from opening the scoring.
Chats Rob Goodger did well to volley clear from virtually under his own crossbar as YMCA started to look more of a threat.
On the hour mark a great block tackle from Steve Best set up Harvey and it took two deflections to clear the shot.
It was starting to look more and more as though one moment of inspiration may seal the points.
Unfortunately for Chatham it came at the wrong end in the 75th minute. A deep cross to the far post was met crisply on the volley by Pat Massaro to give Whitehouse no chance.
Chatham applied pressure in the last ten minutes as James hit the side netting and keeper John Whitehouse came close with a header and a shot after coming up for a corner in the closing moments.
YMCA hit the post through Richard Greenfield and in the end it just wasn't to be for Chats.
Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, Goodger, Larkin, Brown, Best (Douglas 72), Smith, Brooks, Harvey, Denness, James. Subs: Boyle, Lyons, King, Winter-Nolan.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd