RAMSGATE 6 WHITSTABLE TOWN 1
The Pitching In Isthmian League South East
Monday April 18 2022 15.00

Whitstable slumped to a heavy defeat on Easter Monday and are now left hoping for a last day miracle to avoid relegation. The large number of away fans that made the trip to Thanet had their hopes raised when George McIlroy’s shot was deflected over Jacob Russell to give Whitstable the lead after just 192 seconds. Dan Eason suffered a bad shoulder injury a few minutes later, but when play eventually restarted Ben Fitchett immediately equalised from a corner. Tom Mills almost restored the advantage when his header hit the bar, but a Callum Peck goal gave Ramsgate a narrow 2-1 lead at the break. Some of the Whitstable team seemed to be feeling the effects of playing twice over the holiday weekend and a 15 minute spell during the second half saw an energetic home side score four times, as Ashley Miller helped himself to a hat-trick and Fitchett headed his second. Whitstable substitute Muhammed Cham was twice denied by Russell, but all hopes now rest on a very favourable couple of results next weekend.

A disappointing 1-0 home loss to Faversham just two days earlier meant Whitstable really needed to win their last two games, but Ramsgate still had a chance of making the play offs despite inexplicably losing their last six matches. Former Gillingham manager Steve Lovell was recently appointed until the end of the season and the Rams undoubtedly remain one of the most dangerous teams in the division, as evidenced by their 4-1 win at the Belmont on New Year’s Day. Andy Drury changed the shape of the Whitstable team for this game with Veron Nzinga returning as left wing back and Tom Mills playing alongside Scott Doe and Will Thomas at the back. George McIlroy started, with George Monger dropping to the bench and Jack Hanson was unavailable. There was a minute’s applause before the game for former Ramsgate goalkeeper Dave Huddart, who sadly passed away on Saturday. There have been some great attendances in recent non-league games in Kent and there looked to be around five hundred watching this match on the new 3G pitch at the Southwood Stadium.

Whitstable made an encouraging start, taking the lead inside the 4th minute following a Mills throw in by the left corner flag. Harry Goodger collected the ball and passed to Drury who found McIlroy and he curled in a shot from the edge of the area that took a deflection before sailing over Russell and into the net. Ramsgate were starting to threaten and Eason got down at the near post to deny Josh Ajayi after a good run into the box from the left. Eason reached up for the corner and the ball went out for another on the other side, but as the Whitstable goalkeeper landed, something was clearly wrong. After a lengthy delay he was able to carry on, but Karn Miller-Neave’s delivery from the right was bundled in from close range by Fitchett to bring the scores level in the 13th minute. The dangerous Ajayi was injured in a tackle by Danny Walder and had to depart the action a couple of minutes later, to be replaced by Peck. Eason saved from Jerald Aboagye when a left wing cross reached him at the far post, then Jamie Coyle thwarted Charlie Heatley with a timely block at the other end. In the 24th minute, a Walder corner was headed back across goal by Will Thomas to Mills whose header came back off the bar before being cleared. Ramsgate went in front in the 29th minutes when Miller robbed Mills in the left corner and played in Peck who cut inside and beat Eason at the near post. The ball was soon in the Whitstable net again following another corner, but the referee spotted a foul on Goodger by Coyle. The rest of the half passed without incident except for a caution for Walder for one too many fouls.

Cham started the second half in place of Nzinga and there was little to trouble either goalkeeper for a while – but that changed from the 58th minute when the home team scored their third. TJ Jadama latched onto a mis-controlled ball and fed Miller-Neave who was adjudged to have been fouled just outside the penalty area and Miller curled a great free kick into the top left corner. Things got even worse for Whitstable when it became 4-1 just 90 seconds later after Jadama won a corner on the left and Miller’s delivery was headed inside the far post by Fitchett. Whitstable went close in the 66th minute after Cham was fouled and when Walder’s free kick rebounded off the wall, it was collected by Cham who did well to make space before hitting a powerful shot from 20 yards that was just pushed away by Russell. Peck collected the ball just outside his own area and ran all the way to the other end before his low cross-shot was touched out by Eason, but only to Miller who scored from close range. Monger replaced Drury before a clever flick by Miller sent Miller-Neave clear, but he was just stopped by a combination of Thomas and Eason. In the 72nd minute, McIlroy and Heatley created an opening for Cham, but Russell kept the ball out and once again a quick break by Jadama and Peck ended was the latter’s cross being nodded in by Miller for his third. Peck shot over from distance before a flurry of late substitutions. Russell parried a McIlroy strike from a tight angle and another rapid break saw Peck find his way past the Whitstable defence, only to fire over the top after doing all the hard work. There was a late Whitstable corner and a saved shot by Stephen Okoh, but the game was well and truly up.

Ramsgate’s play off hopes were dashed by results elsewhere and to escape the bottom two on the last day and earn a possible relegation play off, Whitstable now need to beat Lancing and overturn a goal difference of seven with Phoenix Sports, who entertain Herne Bay.

Ramsgate
Jacob Russell, Jerald Aboagye (Callum Emptage 81), Karn Miller-Neave, Lee Prescott (Mitch Chapman 82), Jamie Coyle, Ben Fitchett, Will Hoare, Tijan Jadama, Josh Ajayi (Callum Peck 19), Ashley Miller, Jake McIntyre.
Subs (unused): Denzelle Olopade, Ollie Bate.
Goals: Ben Fitchett 13, 59, Callum Peck 29, Ashley Miller 58, 66, 72.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, Veron Nzinga (Muhammed Cham 46), Tom Mills (c), Scott Doe, Will Thomas, Danny Walder, Andy Drury (George Monger 69), Charlie Heatley, Harry Goodger (Stephen Okoh 77), George McIlroy.
Subs (unused): Cameron Chamberlain, Montrell Deslandes.
Goal: George McIlroy 4
Yellow cards: Danny Walder 43, Jake Mackenzie 69.

Attendance: 820
Referee: Kieran Cox
Assistants: Ryan Chantrill-Smith & Matthew Williams