We must apply ourselves or we'll lose grip on cup, warns Ward

RAMSGATE will have to break their home duck, if they’re to keep their hands on the Ryman League Cup, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams became the first Kent club to win the silverware, following their win over AFC Sudbury in the final at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium eight months ago.

After the game finished goal-less after extra time, Stuart Vahid thumped home the tenth and match-winning penalty, after now departed goalkeeper, Paul Wilkerson dived to keep out Shane Wardley’s nervously taken spot-kick.

Chatham Town, a side that’s struggling in the bottom five in the Ryman League Division One North table with 14 points from 19 games, are more than capable of extending the Rams’ miserable run at home.

Before this season, Southwood Stadium was known to be a fortress, but a vastly improved playing surface has seen the opposite.

AFC Hornchurch, Tonbridge Angels, Maidstone United, Horsham, Staines Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, Canvey Island, Carshalton Athletic, Hendon and Bognor Regis Town have all enjoyed their trips to the red side of Thanet this season.

Rams boss Jim Ward, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the showdown with Steve Binks’ side, believes Saturday’s impressive 3-0 win at Ashford Town (Middlesex) will give his side the belief to end their barren home run.

“We kept our first clean sheet for a long time Saturday,” he said. “Everybody’s fit tomorrow night, I’m hoping to keep the same back four.

“I’ll just treat it as another game. I won’t be resting players. It will be treated like just another fixture.

“If we get beat there will be no excuses that we’ve rested players for the cup game.

“It will be lovely for the club to get back-to-back clean sheets, that’s why we’re taking it as another game of football.

“We’ve had a lot of fun in this competition last year and we would like to go down the same road again.”

Two goals from striker Jay May, taking his tally up to eight since his move from Bromley, and a volley from defender Ryan Royston ensured Ramsgate came away from Short Lane with a 3-0 victory.

And Ward said: “We were superb, we passed the ball for fun Saturday. It was just a good all round performance, really strong.”

“I know a few of their players,” he said. “It’s the same thing again. You must apply yourselves properly or we’ll get beat.

“We certainly don’t want to get beat. We haven’t won a home game all year so I hope this is the start of a good run at home.”

Meanwhile, Ward drafted in winger Seb Schoburgh from Maidstone United last Friday and the former Dulwich Hamlet and Sittingbourne player is expected to make his second appearance for the club against the Medway side, having made a substitute cameo role in Middlesex.

“He’s like the road runner, that’s what the guys call him,” said Ward.

“He certainly gives us pace, that’s one thing. He only touched the ball twice Saturday and he was flying.”

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

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Ramsgate v Chatham Town
Ryman League Cup Second Round
Tuesday 2^nd December 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN