Whitstable Town 1-0 Ramsgate - We wanted it more, says Lane

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 – 0 RAMSGATE
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 23rd March 2010
Paul Parkinson reports from The Belmont
STEPHEN Lloyd’s 10th minute header, his first of the season, earned East Kent bragging rights for Whitstable Town, giving Mark Lane victory in his first game in charge.

A gritty performance saw the Oystermen with their backs to the wall for long periods, but almost every Ramsgate push saw a Whitstable foot, head, backside (or any other part of the anatomy you can name) put in the way to repel the visitors.

Even though Lane was (in jest) begging for a heart monitor at the end of the game, he was realistic enough to say, to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, that “at the end of the day, you know what you’re going to get with Ramsgate. They’re a big side, who know how to play football, but know how to bombard areas, so we had to defend and get people around the second ball. Today you could say we were a bit lucky that second balls didn’t fall to them, but they didn’t really trouble the goalkeeper.”

Praising the efforts of his team, Lane added “you look at people like Lloydie (Stephen Lloyd), (Sam) Denly, Clint (Gooding) and (Ian) Pulman, who’ve been around the club and at higher levels for a long time. Especially tonight, Pullie and Dan Dolton, who are both Ramsgate lads and wanted it.”

By contrast, Rams boss, Jim Ward was understandably downcast, admitting to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that “the performance was poor. Out of the last 4 games, 3 have been alright; that’s the worst we’ve played for about 6 weeks.

“Saturday we played really well, the same starting 11 tonight, but we just didn’t turn up. Fair play to Whitstable, I can’t take anything away from them, well done to them.”

The match itself, in typical derby fashion, started at 100 miles per hour, but it was Whitstable who struck first.

Dan Dolton’s pin-point 10th minute corner to the back post, was met by a powerful Lloyd header back across goal and although Ian Pulman tried to get a decisive touch, the big defender’s effort nestled in the bottom corner.

Whitstable were unlucky not to extend their lead 3 minutes later when Dolton delivered an almost identical ball for Sam Denly to head across goal, but this time, Stuart Vahid could direct his header on target.

Ramsgate thought they had equalised on 21, when Gary Lockyer latched onto Andy Hadden’s through-ball to steer a shot into the corner of the net, but the whistle had already been blown for a push by Lockyer on Gareth Cornhill in the build-up.

The Rams support in the 190 crowd were baying for two possible penalties; the first a superb tackle by Cornhill on Joe Taylor, then with Lockyer being overpowered by Gary Sayer, but from the long clearance, Pulman beat the visitor’s defence, but screwed his effort across goal.

The remainder of the half saw a number of Ramsgate efforts, none of which really troubled Whitstable goalkeeper, Kevin Fewell.

A Liam Quinn volley caused more concern around the tea bar, Hadden’s 35-yard effort from a free kick was comfortably turned over, and Taylor’s shot was deflected behind off Lloyd.

Ward started the second half by changing his strike force, although he later said both changes were due to knocks received by the young forwards.

One of the changes, Gary Mickelborough came close to levelling matters with a spectacular overhead kick that flew over, but set the tone for the half.

Despite their best efforts, both Quinn headers that Fewell handled comfortably, Ramsgate were unable to find a way past the massed ranks of the Whitstable defence, and on numerous occasions, skipper Denly was to be found near the breakdown with a vital touch or header.

The home side were unfortunate not to seal the match on 75 when Cornhill’s 30-yard free kick was deflected off the outside of the post, with Sam Mott well beaten. Then, following a messy scramble from the corner, Vahid could only toe-poke the ball over the bar from a lunging effort.

Deep in stoppage time, Mickelborough again had the chance to snatch a point, but his hooked effort from the edge of the box only found Fewell’s arms.

Whitstable Town: Kevin Fewell, Gareth Cornhill, Gary Sayer, Scott Heard, Stephen Lloyd, Sam Denly, Clint Gooding, Tom Parker, Stuart Vahid, Ian Pulman (Alex Hossick 84), Dan Dolton (Ben Smith 61).
Subs: Dan Wisker, David Stubbs.

Goal: Stephen Lloyd 10

Booked: Dan Dolton 28, Sam Denly 32, Ian Pulman 51

Ramsgate: Sam Mott, Rhys Lawson, James Gregory, Luke Wheatley, Ollie Gray, Ben Laslett, Liam Quinn, Warren Schultz, Joe Taylor (Tom Tsangarides 46), Gary Lockyer (Gary Mickelbrough 46), Andy Hadden (Kenny Pratt 88).
Subs: Danny Twyman, Will Graham.

Booked: Gary Lockyer 43, Luke Wheatley 74, Andy Hadden 77

Attendance: 190
Referee: Mr N Wilde
Assistants: Mr P Gorvett and Mr O Jackson