We just have to score a few more goals, says Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon

RAMSGATE boss Tim Dixon says he is looking to add a little bit of quality in his strike force because he is disappointed with the low number of goals his side have scored this season.

The Rams inflicted Maidstone United’s first league defeat since August when they grabbed the three points courtesy of a last-gasp penalty from Warren Schulz on Boxing Day.

And Dixon’s men followed that up with a point in a 1-1 home draw against Burgess Hill Town yesterday afternoon.

“How do we beat Maidstone? That’s a very good question, a very good question,” said Dixon.

“I think on the day we adapted to the conditions a litlte bit better than Maidstone did and little bits of quality as well.

“Considering the conditions we were still trying to play a bit of football at the right times and did a bit of the ugly stuff and made the right decisions on the pitch.  We got the ball out of danger basically and played in areas where you can cause problems.

“I think we did that particuarlly in the second half. I know Jay (Saunders) had a few people out as well so I think that helped but that’s what having a squad is all about, using the players who don’t get regular games and see what they can do.

“It was very, very pleasing to keep a clean sheet two games running at home.  We got a point agaisnt Eastbourne, which we probably deserved three. 

“It was a difficult game for both sides but I was pleased with the three points.”

Dixon was full of praise for substitute Schulz, who netted his eleventh goal of the season from the penalty spot.

He said: “It’s something that Warren’s been used to doing over the years, he’s very experienced.  He actually came on to the pitch 10-12 minutes before so I think it was a timely substitution and I was glad that he stepped up and put it away.”

Only Ramsgate, Chatham Town and Tonbridge Angels have been able to get on both of their home games over the festive period due to the soaking wet conditions.

Ian Jordan is the groundsman who works for Bromley, Tonbridge Angels and Dulwich Hamlet and he managed to get on the Angels’ home games against Dover Athletic (on Boxing Day) and Bromley yesterday, and as a result 1,392 fans flocked through the turnstiles at Longmead Stadium to give the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South club a financial boost.

Ramsgate attracted 185 against Burgess Hill and a welcomed 406 against the Stones.

“The groundsman at this time of the year do very well,” said Dixon.

“Martin Jefferys has been superb to get the game on yesterday. It’s not just the weather and the condition, it’s availability, being able to get on the pitch to do the work in the first place.

“Thankfully, yesterday it was pretty bad in some areas but at least we managed to get the game on.  A bit of a shame with the wind that spoilt the game more than the actual pitch itself.”

Reflecting on the game, Dixon added: “I was disappinted to be honest with you, we went 1-0 up from a corner and a great header and a great delivery.  Both keeper’s didn’t have much to do all day. When we went 1-0 up I could see another clean sheet coming but I was a litlte bit disappointed we conceeded.  We have to learn from our mistakes and move on.

“We havent lost, whch was a positive. A couple of months ago we would have lost that game 2-1, but we’ve finished with a point, four points out of six so far over Christmas. I wanted maximum points but that’s me being greedy.

“We’ve got it in our locker that we can beat any team in the league if we can perform on the day.”

Dixon takes his side along the Kent coast to face a Herne Bay side that came away from their bitter-rivals Whitstable Town with a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day.

Simon Halsey’s side have now gone eight games without a win and have slipped out of the play-off picture down to sixteenth-place in the table, but Dixon expects a tough local derby at Winch’s Field on New Years’ Day.

“Another hard game, another Kent derby,” he said.

“They’ve been going through a rough patch but he’ll get them firing on all cylinders and stoke up the fire to get them wanting to play and beat Ramsgate.

“We know about their players, they know about ours.  It’s always difficult.

“The pitch up at Herne Bay as well is a bit boggy, it’s not the best.  They’ve called for a pitch inspection a day before the game so it’s looking pretty ominious for the game to be on at the moment.  If it is we’ll certainly be prepared.

“I’ve had a chat with the lads to be sensible on New Years Eve because it’s the time of year where you can pick up points and move up that league a little bit. 

“That game is no different. It will be a tough Kent derby and one we want to win.”

Dixon calls for professionalism from his players when it comes to their pre-match preparation.

“When I played it was difficult,” he said. “It’s my birthday on New Years Eve so as a footballer expecially in non-league you can’t expect the lads not to celebrate or have a couple of drinks.

“A modern day footballer is different from our day, they look after themselves. I just hope that people turn up and their representing Ramsgate Football Club and I want them to turn up and do themselves justice.

“It’s my first year as manager and I didn’t have any problems with them turning up on Boxing Day in the right frame of mind and the right preparation and I expect the same on New Years Day.”

Ramsgate go into the game sitting in tenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 29 points from 20 games.  However, goalscoring has been a problem for the Rams and they have scored 25 goals and conceeded 23 goals in the league this term.

Dixon said: “Yes, I’m happy at the moment. We’re in the right areas. We’re not too far off it but I’d rather be further up the table with a few more points on the board.

“Disappointed with the number of goals we’ve scored this year. We’ve had enough opportunities to put the game to bed and we haven’t done. I’m happy with the defensive side of things. The defensive record is pretty good, but I have to address the goalscoring a litlte bit.

“We’re always looking to add bits of quality. It has to be the right player who comes along and it has to fall within the budget of the club. 

“We’re always looking to add players, that little bit of extra quality but if you look at the number of goals we’ve scored, it’s not the best, it’s down there with a couple of clubs down the bottom.

“If we score more goals we’ll win more games. We’re not letting in that many so you don’t have to be a mathematician to work that one out.

“We are creating chances, although yesterday the stats didn’t go very well, but overall we’re creating chances and we’ve got quality in the side.  We just have to score a few more goals.”

Dixon had this message to give the Southwood Stadium faithful going into the New Year.

“Keep the faith going in the New year. We’re not out of the equation. We’re still there or there abouts. The play-offs were our intention at the start of the season and it’s still our intention so we need to push on.

“At the moment we’re unbeaten in Christmas and we want to take it into the New Year.

“We keep saying the same physlophy. We try to play football at the right times.  Although the supporters haven’t been great numbers this year but we’ve had some nice comments from the ones that are there and I hope they stay with us and see what we can achive by the end of the season.”

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk  

Herne Bay  v  Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 1^st January 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG