Sittingbourne 4-0 Ramsgate - We shouldn't be looking down we should be looking up, says Sittingbourne boss Nick Davis

Sittingbourne 4 – 0 Ramsgate
Location	Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG
Kickoff	28/12/2015 15:00

SITTINGBOURNE  4-0  RAMSGATE
Ryman League Division One South
Bank Holiday Monday, 28 December 2015
Stephen McCartney reports from Woodstock Park

SITTINGBOURNE manager Nick Davis says his club should be looking upwards rather than looking over their shoulder following this flattering 4-0 win over fourth-placed Ramsgate.

Sittingbourne leapfrogged over Chatham Town and East Grinstead Town into 18^th place in the Ryman League Division One South table on 29 points from 27 games after stretching their unbeaten run to five games.

Ramsgate remain where they started the game on 49 points from their 29 league outings, a point above Herne Bay, who were defeated 2-0 by bottom-side Whitstable Town at Winch’s Field today, the Oystermen’s fourth league win in 28 games.

Sittingbourne’s largest crowd of the season of 223 saw their side take a first half lead through former Bromley striker Dan Hughes.

Ramsgate squandered numerous chances to equalise and to claim victory by a large margin.

But former Folkestone Invicta striker Jordan Wells came off the bench in the 69^th minute and went on to score a hat-trick in only 385 seconds at the death to give the scoreline a flattering look.

Ramsgate lost striker Ian Pulman to a second yellow card through dissent immediately after Sittingbourne’s second goal before capitulating late on.

“It was a lot closer than the scoreline suggested,” admitted Davis following his side’s ninth league win of the season that puts the club four points clear of the relegation zone.

“We soaked up some of the pressure they were coming at us.  They have a threat going forward, haven’t they?  But the biggest complement for me is their players coming off and saying ‘how the hell are you down there in the league?’ so that’s a great compliment!

“I thought we were outstanding today.  We had two seventeen-year-olds (Jack Steventon and Josh Wisson), we’re a young side.

“We’re near the bottom, we need the points to pull away from the bottom. We’ve got 29 points now, unbeaten in five which is the most important thing. Two clean sheets on the bounce, which is nice.”

For Ramsgate joint-manager Danny Ward, he rued his side’s numerous missed chances for the club’s eighth league defeat of the season, their sixth on the road.

“You can’t miss chances that we’ve missed and expect to win a game of football,” said Ward.

“It was never a 4-0. It was 1-0. We were just pushing on crazy in the last ten minutes and they hit us on the break.

“Joe Taylor’s hit the post. Nick Treadwell’s there, a free-kicks gone straight in the keeper’s hands. If it was either side it’s a goal and Adam Molloy’s done a decent save from Taylor first half as well.

“The chances are falling to the players we want them to full to, Taylor and Pulman, not good enough.”

Ramsgate created the first opening after only 182 seconds.

Skipper Joe Kane swept forward a free-kick from the edge of the centre circle towards the edge of the penalty area.  Nick Treadwell slipped over as Jono Richardson attempted a challenge but the central midfielder managed to flick his looping shot into Adam Molloy’s hands from 18-yards.

Sittingbourne’s first chance arrived inside the opening 10 minutes.

Josh Wisson clipped his right-footed free-kick into the penalty area from the half-way line, which was punched away by Luke Watkins and quiet winger Steven Ita’s right-footed drive from 20-yards screamed past the far post.

Another free-kick from Wisson was met by Richardson’s looping header from 17-yards, which dropped down into Watkins’ hands.

Sittingbourne went close following their first corner of the game after 13 minutes.

Ita swung in the corner from the left with his left-foot towards the near post and an unmarked Richardson sent his towering header just over the crossbar from 10-yards.

Davis said: “Again, he causes problems in there. It’s a good ball in. He’s had a couple of headers in the box today. Maybe should’ve done better. We’re a threat from set-plays.”

This Kent derby then settled down into a scrappy affair before Ramsgate hit the woodwork after 28 minutes.

Good play from Pulman down the left channel saw him shrug off the attentions of Sittingbourne’s right-back Tom Brunt, before he played the ball inside to Joe Taylor, whose right-footed drive from 25-yards left Molloy rooted to the spot but the shot pinged off the left-hand post.

Ward said: “Keeper hasn’t even moved! Great strike, pinged off the post.  I think it summed up our luck to be honest with you.

“Goals win you matches and goals give you more confidence and goals stop you attacking when you don’t have to attack.  You just sit and catch people on the break, exactly what they did.

“You would think they were the away side because we pummelled them. Alright 4-0 flatters them massively but that’s life.  We’ll always try to get something out of a game of football but today it didn’t work.”

Davis added: “Joe Taylor’s a massive threat. He got 27 goals for us in that year. We know what he’s about. All he needs is a yard of space and he puts it on his right and he had four or five of those attempts today. He’s hit the post and Adam Molloy’s made a good save from one.

“I said to the lads don’t let him turn and keep him tight and every time he turns his back then I’m pleased. He only needs a yard to turn and shoot, hence why he’s got 19 goals this year.”

Ita swung in another corner towards Richardson at the near post and the ball came out to Billy French, who played the ball across to Hughes, who sliced his right-footed shot past the near post.

But Sittingbourne took the lead with 34:31 on the clock through Hughes’ second goal for the club this season.

Richardson started the move as he released striker Miles Cornwell down the left, who slipped the ball through for Hughes to drill his deflected right-footed angled drive into the bottom near corner from 12-yards.

“Great goal, I thought it was a fantastic goal,” hailed Davis.

“Miles Cornwell, again, he puts a shift in for us. Hughes’ played for Bromley, played for their first team on a few occasions as well.  A young lad and he can finish. It was a great finish from him.  I thought the keeper saved it if I’m honest.

“It was a lovely move. We felt we could get in behind them because we had pace up there so it was a great move, a great goal.”

Ward, meanwhile, felt central defender Kane Smith could have cut out the ball that led to the goal.

“Poor goal to concede! Our centre halves have got to do better than what they did. 

“We gave the boy too much space in the box. Good goal, I suppose you could say, but not good enough from us but we’re still young and we’re still learning.

“Kane’s only 18, he’ll learn from this and he will come back better. Disappointing goal to concede.”

Sittingbourne posed a threat from set-pieces than open play during the first half and Ita this time put his corner towards the edge of the penalty area and this time Richardson directed his towering header looping just over the crossbar.

Ramsgate were to be denied by a smart diving save from Molloy inside the final four minutes.

Combative central midfield enforcer Oliver Brown slipped the ball into Taylor’s feet, who cut onto his right-footed and lashed his right-footed shot towards the bottom corner, which forced Molloy to dive to his right to push the ball around the post for a corner.

Ramsgate squandered an excellent chance to draw level just before the half-time whistle.

Pulman produced a quality free-kick from the right some 35-yards from goal which landed inside the six-yard box and Treadwell stabbed his shot straight at Molloy from two-yards out when he really should have found the back of the net.

“I actually brought Adam Molloy here three years ago, I think.  Good save. Taylor’s hit a great strike and he’s pushed it around the corner,” said Ward.

“But Treads has got to score! Any decent connection it’s a goal, either side of him. It’s a good one as well. I think that summed up our work for today, totally summed it up completely.”

Davis said: “They were a threat from set-plays. We just said try don’t give away too many free-kicks.  You’re right, maybe they should’ve scored that. Adam was in the right place. He was today, wasn’t he?”

The Brickies created the final chance of the first half following Stefan Wright’s long throw from the right.

The ball was headed out by Treadwell and Wisson’s dipping right-footed volley just cleared the crossbar from 25-yards.

Both were asked what they told their troops during the half-time interval.

Davis said: “I said keep going! I thought we were the better side. I thought we edged it.  There were a couple of half chances and I said look it was a good half, a good 45, we’ve won nothing yet!

“We’ve come out and we’ve been sloppy. We’ve lost leads here against Folkestone, Carshalton, Corinthian-Casuals so it was important for us to start winning our battles again and then hopefully earn the right to play.”

Ward added: “I just told them to keep on doing what they were doing. I thought we were miles on top. I thought we created the better chances.

“They are what they are.  They play to the conditions of the pitch. It doesn’t suit us. They get it up and forward.  You know what we are, we try to get it down and pass the ball.  You can’t play a passing game on that pitch. It was our fault. I couldn’t pay to watch it.  I wouldn’t ask the fans to pay to watch it.

“We still had a load of chances second half to win the game.  If we got one, we would’ve won it.”

Ramsgate pressed for the equaliser that their play deserved during the second half as Sittingbourne were content to soak up the pressure and hit their Kent rivals on the break when they could.

Taylor released Pulman in behind Richardson inside the opening three minutes and Pulman’s right-footed angled drive from the right hand side of the penalty area was comfortably saved by Molloy.

“Adam was very good today,” said Davis.

“They’ve scored a lot of goals. I’m not sure how many goals they’ve got between them (Taylor, 19, Pulman, 14), I think they’re a real threat aren’t they?

“They’ve invested in scoring those hence why they’re fourth in the league so we know they were going to have some chances today.”

Ward added: “He’s scored them so you can’t hold it again him.  Puly’s hit a decent shot and Molloy’s held it.  He scores them all day long, you know what’s he’s like.  You can’t moan at people for shooting. It’s frustrating.”

Ramsgate were kicking down the slope for the second half and Pulman drilled his right-footed free-kick over the crossbar and stand roof from 30-yards.

Taylor then produced a sublime diagonal pass over to Brunt, who produced a right-back’s finish, lashing his left-footed drive high and wide of the far post from 20-yards.

Ramsgate were awarded a free-kick close to the right by-line and Pulman floated in the ball towards the far post towards the head of substitute Aaron James and he was to be denied a debut goal by a goal-line headed clearance by Jack Steventon.

Sittingbourne’s first second half opening finally arrived in the 19^th minute when Ita found space down the left and he stroked his shot towards the bottom far corner, which forced Watkins to dive to his left to make the save.

Sittingbourne were holding on to their slender lead as Ramsgate looked the more likely to find the breakthrough that their attack minded play deserved.

Brown played the ball over the top to release Pulman down the left and he floated over an excellent cross which Taylor decided against hitting on the volley, instead he brought the ball down under control, cut the ball onto his left foot and from 18-yards forced Molloy to make a low save to his left.

“On his day, he’s one of the best keeper’s in the league regardless of our league position,” added Davis.

A frustrated Ward added: “The disappointing thing about it is the chances fell to those two and we didn’t get one – unbelievable really to be honest with you!”

Ramsgate were frustrated again inside the final nine minutes when Molloy made another save.

Left-back Luke Wheatley put in a cross towards the edge of the box, the ball was flicked on by substitute Alfie Paxman and Molloy rushed off his line to thwart James.

Pulman pleaded his innocence when he was booked by referee Jack Paxman for dissent with 86 minutes on the clock although Danny Ward claimed the referee got the wrong man.

“It was Kane Rowland who said to the referee that shouldn’t have been a free-kick to us. Pulman didn’t even open his mouth so you’re spot on with that (that Pulman was not the guilty party).

“It was amazing because Ian was saying to him that he should’ve have booked him because it wasn’t even his fault but he’s (referee) called my captain centre half Joe Kane from 50-yards to come and speak to him to tell Ian no more back chat or whatever and by the time Joe gets the 47-yards, three yards away from the incident he’s pulled out another yellow card and given him (Pulman) a red card!”

Had you left Woodstock Park at this moment in the game you would have been shocked to find out that Sittingbourne went on to score three more goals.

Ward agreed by saying, “If you’re sitting there with five minutes to go, if there was going to be any more goals in the match it was us that were going to get them.

“I can’t think of them having any more chances second half except for counter-attacks and breakaways.”

Sittingbourne doubled their lead with 41:54 on the clock following a set-piece.

Substitute Hicham Akhazzan floated over a free-kick from the right, which sailed over everybody, but Cornwell did brilliantly to bring the ball under control and kept it in play by hooking the ball down before cutting inside and cutting the ball inside to Wells to drill his right-footed shot underneath Watkins.

Speaking about Cornwell’s contribution, Davis said: “Great touch, wasn’t it?”
He’s been outstanding for us recently. We’re going to miss him because he’s suspended for three games from the 5^th January.

“He links up very well. He’ll be the first to admit he’s not going to get you 20 goals a year but he’ll give his fair share of assists and hopefully 10-15 goals.”

And on Wells’ finish, Davis said: “I don’t think he hit it cleanly as he could’ve done. I’ve just seen the back of the net bulge, but it gave us a cushion going into the last seven or eight minutes.

Ward added: “Good strike. I think we put Nick Treadwell up front at that time so we were thin at the back so it is what it is. 

“Id’ rather get beat two, three, four-nil instead of just sitting back and accepting it.  We never do that. We’ll never will do, no matter what happens.  The goals that we’ve conceded today were my fault. It was me that was telling them to push on to try to get something out of it.”

While Sittingbourne were celebrating playing their get out of jail card, the referee walked over to Pulman and pulled out a second yellow card and then a red for showing dissent.

Davis added: “I don’t know what he’s said. The referee shown a red card. Obviously they’re frustrated. These games can go your way sometimes. I don’t know what he’s said but he’s been booked and he’s gone.”

It proved to be a costly mistake as clinical Sittingbourne punished Ramsgate with two quick-fire goals.

Goal number three arrived with 45:02 on the clock.

Wisson found himself in space within the left channel and he cut the ball towards the near post for Wells to bundle the ball into the bottom left-hand corner from close range despite being closely marked.

“He’s got two goals. He’s only been on the pitch about six minutes! What’s the record? He’s been on the pitch 21-23 minutes or whatever it is. 

“I didn’t think he scored or whether it was an own goal if I’m being honest but he’s put his hand up. Fair enough, I think he’ll take that as a centre forward.”

Ward added: “Two-nil down you try to get a point back by trying to get two goals so we push forward again. It is what it is. Their goals are goals, they flattered them but it’s life.”

Wells completed his hat-trick with 47:19 on the clock, proving you should never leave a football match early for any reason!

Wright laid the ball to Wells, who drilled his right-footed angled drive across Watkins to find the far corner to score his fifth goal for the club following a player exchange for Harry Smith, who was sold to Folkestone Invicta.

“They played us onside didn’t they? He’s turned and his eyes lit up.  I thought their captain was playing him onside,” said Davis.

“Good finish. We’ve got him in from Folkestone. The boy’s only scored three, that’s four goals he’s got for us in five games I think.

“I can’t remember the last time someone scored a hat-trick (for Sittingbourne). It must’ve been Ryan Golding, I think, two or three years ago.”

Ward said: “Again, it’s about right.  Him again? Did he get a hat-trick? Good player! It is what it is. We got caught on the break, bad goals to concede.  It wasn’t that that cost us, the chances we missed.”

Reflecting on their league position, Davis is delighted that Sittingbourne are edging away from the relegation zone going into the New Year.

“Four-nil has flattered them, I agree with that,” admitted the Sittingbourne boss.

“It’s pushed us up, 29 points now, gives us a slight bit of breathing space. We shouldn’t be looking down, we should be looking up but we’ve got some tough fixtures coming up. We’ve just got to keep our feet on the ground, a good result, but at the end of the day it’s only three points.”

Speaking about attracting their seasonal best crowd of Woodstock Park, Davis added: “Wow! I didn’t think it was that many! That’s great. Good idea really to put it on a Monday, maybe it wouldn’t have been quite as many on the Boxing Day so it’s great, pleased all round.”

Meanwhile, Ward was asked how it felt for the former Sittingbourne players and management team to lose to their old club in such a manner.

Ward replied: “Devastated. Absolutely gutted! It’s not getting beat by Sittingbourne. It’s losing the three points - which we should’ve got!

“I think we’ve had enough chances  to win two, three or four games. We’ll play a lot worse than that and win. 

“This place doesn’t suit us. If we come here next year then we’ll have to think about changing our game plan to suit what it is.  You’ll see players like Jake MacKenzie and Tom Loynes especially who like to run with the ball. They stepped a couple of yards and the ball was bouncing three feet in the air and you see their team was six foot and they get the ball forward and hustle and bustle.”

Ward added: “Anybody in this league can beat each other, everybody.  The disappointing thing for us is we’ve been beaten by the bottom four or five, something stupid like that, but we need to pick ourselves up.  We just have to score the goals when we’re on top.”

Sittingbourne: Adam Molloy, Tom Brunt, Jono Richardson, Billy French, Jack Steventon, Josh Wisson, Stefan Wright, Ollie Bankole, Dan Hughes (Jordan Wells 69), Miles Cornwell, Steven Ita (Hicham Akhazzan 82).
Subs: Kerry Kedze, Conrad Lee, George Crimmen

Goals: Dan Hughes 35, Jordan Wells 87, 90, 90

Booked: Josh Wisson 58

Ramsgate: Luke Watkins, Jake MacKenzie, Luke Wheatley, Joe Kane, Kane Smith (Aaron James 60), Oliver Brown, Tom Loynes (Alfie Paxman 70), Nick Treadwell, Ian Pulman, Joe Taylor, Kane Rowland.
Subs: Jack Paxman, Daniel Vinson, Joshua Jackson

Booked: Ian Pulman 86

Sent Off: Ian Pulman 88

Attendance: 223
Referee: Mr Jack Packman (Margate)
Assistants: Mr Piotr Zachwieja (Chatham) & Mr Michael Marsh (Herne Bay)