We're still in with a chance of the play-offs, says Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon

RAMSGATE boss Tim Dixon says he wants to claim three points at local rivals Herne Bay on Wednesday night.



The Rams beat the wet weather to claim a 4-0 victory over struggling Horsham on Saturday – a result that takes them up to seventh-place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 53 points from 34 games.

”There was a lot of games being called off again and we were keen to get the game on, although I had a couple of suspensions and injuries,” said Dixon.

”Ian Pulman played with a bad bout of flu that’s he’s had; Ben Laslett wasn’t very well in midfield and Dean Hill, my captain, had to go off after 35 minutes.

”It gave the others a chance. I was pleased to give a young seventeen-year-old (Jack Granger) a few minutes as sub, which is always pleasing.  He’s doing well in the under 18s and reserves so it was really good to get him on the pitch.

Dixon was disappointed that Saturday’s game only attracted a crowd of 136 to Southwood Stadium.

”It’s probably one of the most disappointing things of the season really,” admitted Dixon.

”We don’t help ourselves with some poor performances.  The last two games have been 4-1 against Leatherhead and 4-0 against Horsham where we’ve tried to play decent football.

”It’s a shame about the crowds but you can’t do nothing about that.  There was Champions League (on television) against Leatherhead and the rain and the cold against Horsham, which you can’t do nothing about and it keeps a few people away.

”Also the fact there was so many games being called off in the last minute.  Horsham normally take a hardy bunch of souls to most games and it puts people off a little bit as well.”

Goals from Pulman, James Sherman (2) and Jon Eguileor gave watching Tommy Docherty food for thought.

The Glasgow born, 84-year-old, who played for Celtic, Preston North End, Chelsea and Arsenal, and managed the likes of Scotland, Chelsea and Mancester United - relegating the Old Trafford outfit from the old First Division back in 1973-74 - among others, was a guest of the club on Friday night in a question-and-answer function and stayed to watch the Horsham game the following day.

Two Ramsgate shirts signed by Docherty were auctioned for the Warren Schulz Testimonial fund raising over £100 and the club raised over £500 in other signed memorabilia.
 
”It was a fantastic couple of days for the club,” said Dixon.  “A great night with Tommy. It’s always good to get the knowledge of people who have been in the game to get their views and he very kindly stayed for the game on Saturday and I think he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

”He spoke to the players afterwards. He likes the non-league scene. There’s players not earning millions and millions of pounds and their playing with passion and from the heart. He made some good comments. It was good to have him around.

”I didn’t ask about tactics or anything like that. He’s very knowledgeable about today’s game. The game’s changed over the years. He made some comments and it’s great to hear. I had a chat, it’s just great to hear his views on the game really.”

Dixon takes his side to Winch’s Field on Wednesday night.  Herne Bay are in fifteenth-place in their inaugural Ryman League campaign, with 37 points from 30 games.  They are unbeaten in three games, although their last two games have been postponed through waterlogged pitches.

Dixon said: “There’s a few really important games coming up.  We’ll treat that as a normal Kent derby. It’s a really difficult, horrible place to go to. I think the pitch has suffered a bit this year, which is a real leveller, but we’ve been decent in the rain and mud this year so I hope we put in another solid performance on Wednesday.

”Simon Halsey’s had a bad little run, which I think they’ve come out of now and their cementing their place in the middle off the table, which isn’t bad in their first season in this league.

”It’s been a learning curve to Herne Bay this year and it’s for me as the manager of Ramsgate.  There’s a lot of different conundrums that you have to face this year and sort out.

”The lads will be well up for that one. It’s a local derby and you don’t want to lose to anybody in Kent really. It’s as simple as that!

”We know each others players and most of the managers know each other in Kent derbies as well.”

Dixon is delighted that his side are pressing towards the play-offs, which was his target at the start of the season.

”I think at the beginning of the season most managers will be looking for the play-offs and that was our target at the beginning of the season,” said Dixon.

”We’ve lost a lot of points and we feel we should be a little bit higher.  That’s the inconsistency. It costs you points, but we’re still in with a chance.  The lads know that are we’re fighting for every point.  It’s where we want to be as a football club and there’s six or seven teams battling for that now.

“You can go down to Eastbourne (in eleventh-place with 46 points from 31 games) and they’re still in with a shout. There’s teams around us all gunning for those three places. 

”I think Dulwich and Maidstone, one will be champions and one will be runners-up by the looks of things, although their faltering a little bit recently.  Anything can happen.”

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

Herne Bay  v  Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Wednesday 20^th March 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG