We'll certainly have a team out who will certainly do us proud, says Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon

RAMSGATE boss Tim Dixon says his players have to be bang on their game when they travel to Whitstable Town on Saturday.



The Rams boss admitted he was disappointed with his players’ performances during the past seven days, which has seen his troops held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Three Bridges at home last weekend, before going down to a 2-1 defeat at Worthing on Tuesday night.

“I think our couple of injuries have caught up with us and we’re down to the bare bones, but it was a poor performance against Three Bridges really,” said Dixon.

“We went 1-0 up with a penalty, but we haven’t gone on from scoring the first goal to kill off teams and in the end they equalised and Darren Hawkes has made a couple of great saves to keep us in the game.

“Just a point at home on Saturday and every similar Tuesday night away to Worthing.”

Reflecting on the game on the Sussex coast, Dixon said: “They came out of the blocks really quick and got a penalty, which Darren Hawkes made a tremendous save and then scored quickly.

“I couldn’t wait to get the lads in for a chat at half-time and we came out of the blocks second half and scored one of the best goals we’ve scored this season through Ashley Miller.

“Then we committed the cardinal sin of letting a goal in a minute later.

“But we could have got a draw. Jon Eguileor, our Spanish guy, hit the bar so we could have salvaged a draw in the last couple of minutes, but we missed another couple of chances before that.”

A disappointed Dixon added: “We were unbeaten for a little while, albeit a few draws, but I wanted to continue that unbeaten run going into the New Year and we failed miserably.”

Dixon has read his side the riot act during tonight’s training session ahead of their trip along the Kent coast to Whitstable Town on Saturday.

Nicky Southall’s side are in the bottom four in the Ryman League Division One South table and are only six points clear of Three Bridges, who occupy the sole relegation berth.

“It’s another Kent derby, so always difficult and I think Trigger (Southall) will be saying the same from his point of view as well,” said Dixon.

“We know each other’s players. We really have to be really up for it.

“I’ve just finished training with the lads now and they know how I feel about the performances recently and I need a reaction on Saturday.

“Whatever eleven I put on the field I expect to wear the shirt with pride and put in a battling performance.”

Dixon says he relishes the fourteen Kent derbies that have to be played during their 42-match league campaign.

He said: “Generally I think the Kent teams look forward to the derbies, although they’re always very difficult, they’re always good games of football.  I haven’t been involved with boring 0-0’s.

“There’s always a bit about them because there’s always a lot up for stake. Not just bragging rights. You want to represent your supporters and do them proud as well.

“It’s only a few miles down the road for some of the supporters. The games are a short distance away so the fans look forward to those sort of games as well.”

Midtable Ramsgate are only seven points adrift of fifth-placed Hythe Town and reaching the play-offs is Dixon’s target this season.

When asked how his side can get in to the top five, Dixon said: “By going on a run of games where you win and getting three points.  You could draw the next six games and probably drop back four places so draws are no good.

“We go into every game trying for three points, which I think we’re capable off.

“Performances have got to be at a certain level. It’s no good carrying players. There’s no room to carrying players with three or four having an off day.  Everyone’s got to be bang on their game.”

When asked about injuries for the Whitstable game, Dixon replied, “We’ve got Tom Chapman still out. It looks like he’s going to miss Saturday. He done his ankle in the last minute against Hythe when we beat them 2-0 early December. I wanted him back a little bit quicker but we couldn’t really push it too far. He’s probably a week away. We’ve got to look after the young lad really, so he’ll miss it.

“We’ll have fitness tests on Macauley Murray and Dean Hill on Saturday and Steve O’Brien’s ill at the moment.

“It’s down to bare bones again, but we’ll certainly have a team out who will do us proud, hopefully.”

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

Whitstable Town  v  Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12^th January 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP