We will come back stronger, insists upbeat Schulz

WARREN SCHULZ insists Ramsgate will bounce back from their opening day defeat - with a victory at Sutton United on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams opened their new Ryman Premier League campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to much-fancied side AFC Hornchurch at Southwood Stadium yesterday.

The returning Mo Takaloo played as a lone striker for the Thanet side and the former Maidstone United striker opened the scoring inside the opening six minutes.

But two goals in the space of four first half minutes from Urchins’ striker Simon Parker and right-sided midfielder Dean Green, ensured Essex caused more agony for Kent at the weekend.

The Urchins had goalkeeper Dale Brightly to thank for their hard-fought victory, saving Takaloo’s last minute penalty and the follow up from substitute Stuart Vahid, but Ramsgate failed to perform on their excellent new playing surface.

“It was a disappointing day, especially being at home, considering our record last season,” said Schulz, when speaking to www.kentishsfootball.co.uk afterwards, knowing that the Rams lost only three times at home in the league last term.

“We’ve got some hard games, going to Sutton on Tuesday, but all the boys’ seem really disappointed, but I can see us bouncing back.

“It might make us a stronger team together.”

Schulz recalled this time twelve months ago when they lost their opening game at AFC Wimbledon, but still went on to finish in the final play-off berth.

He said: “Obviously, it would have been nice to get off to a good start, but as you said, last season we got off to a losing run but we bounced back and sometimes it makes you a stronger team.

“It’s nice to have a nice, good, home record for the fans and for team morale, but I’m sure we’ll bounce back.

“We’ve got a good set of lads’ here, a lot of potential.”

Manager Jim Ward handed goalkeeper Jack Delo (Herne Bay), left-back Joe Dowley (Sittingbourne), central defender Jake Eastwood (Margate), striker Takaloo (Maidstone United) and midfielder Jamie Maxted (Canterbury City) their debuts yesterday, although it was Takaloo’s third debut for the Rams, and former Herne Bay midfielder Ben Brown came off the bench for the last fourteen minutes.

And Schulz, who made way for Vahid after 66 minutes, admitted they just didn’t perform.

He said: “As soon as we scored the goal we seemed to let them back in.”

The 29-year-old admitted Hornchurch’s Lee Hodges pulled the strings in midfield.

“A few of their players bossed it a little bit so those mad ten minutes, when they got their two goals and I felt we found it hard to get back into the game after that,” said Schulz.

“They were first to a lot of balls before us, which is unusual being at home, but we’ll push on, we’ll be fine.”

Schulz knows Ramsgate must support lone striker Takaloo if they’re to get any points at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday night.

The Surrey side opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw in Essex at Harlow Town.

“They had a couple of big centre halves and Mo is one of the best player’s I’ve seen to hold up the ball but they had a lot of people in midfield bossing the midfield and it pulled us a little bit about, which we couldn’t get the support up to Mo,” admitted Schulz.

But he vowed: “I’m sure we’ll learn from this and come back a bigger and better team.”

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

Sutton United v Ramsgate
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 19^th August 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2EY