We're not ready to go up, admits Ward

Friday 12th March 2010

RAMSGATE welcome Chatham Town to Southwood tomorrow for a Ryman League Division One South clash between two teams that a few weeks ago would have been between two clubs chasing a play-off place, writes Mike Green.

Yet, both have suffered form slumps since Christmas and Chatham’s win over Whyteleafe last weekend snapped a six game losing streak.

For the Rams, Wednesday’s win at Ashford was their first of 2010, and after the game Rams boss Jim Ward was buzzing when he spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “You wouldn’t believe how fraught the boys have been with not winning.” Ward said.

“They’ve got themselves in a right state – they lost confidence, they lost belief and it my job to put that back into them.

“We had five lads tonight the oldest of whom was 19 – the futures great but we must win a game every now and then. We’ve drawn eight of the last twelve before tonight which is not good enough, but we’ll happily take the three points tonight.”

Ward added: “Some people at the club have been talking about relegation and there are still some talking about the play-off’s, but I’m just pleased for the players tonight.

“We’re not ready to go up – I’d take it but we need to really get ourselves together and get organised – there was still flaws there tonight that I recognised but there were still the good bits which I was very pleased with.

“I might get more out of them now especially after we got beat up by Leatherhead on Saturday especially after the character we showed.”

Looking ahead to the weekend’s visit of the Medway side, the Rams boss had this to say. “Chatham are no mugs; they’ll come and they’ll kick and they’ll scratch, and they’ve got a bit of quality about them,” he said, “but we’ve at last broke our duck for 2010 – can we go back to back and do the double on them as well?

“We won 1-0 at their place after our keeper got lost en route and I had to play an 18 year old in goal – that was a battle that night and I don’t expect anything else at the weekend!”

With all the financial problems facing football at the moment, Ward then reflected on might, and could possible still be.

“We knew at the start of the season that we wouldn’t be flying until we could get some strength in. And of course the money hasn’t been right all season the crowds haven’t been right so we’ve had to go and pinch other people’s players and bring young lads through.” He said.

He added, with a smile breaking out on his face, “And you know I find that the greatest challenges in the game and I always have. This is the next of young players and I hope that they’ll repeat what those before them have done as the Conference South and Ryman League is littered with my old players!!!”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

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

Ramsgate v Chatham Town

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 13th March 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN