Tuesday 15th September

For three quarters of the match, Tuesday night’s game between Chatham Town and Ramsgate was even – but all the same, the visitors came away with an ultimately comfortable 2-0 win.

Chatham had the first real chance, when the ball broke to Ryan Restell just inside the Ramsgate half.  He found Callum O’Shea, but the shot was over the bar.  A few minutes later, and another chance after Ramsgate conceded a needless corner.  After a series of headers from both teams in the penalty area, the ball fell to O’Shea on the right of the area, and he found Jon Hogg whose shot from a narrow angle was saved.  Brad Potter too went close within a couple of minutes, and Chatham were well on top.

With 22 minutes on the watch, the Ramsgate goalkeeper Quinn brought down an onrushing Chatham player just outside the box close to the goal line.  Quinn was perhaps a little fortunate not to be booked, and was again fortunate a moment later when a header from the resulting free kick was ruled to have gone for a goal kick rather than a corner.

Ramsgate began to put together a few attacks of their own, and for the rest of the first half the ball went quickly from end to end, but with few serious chances.  Ramsgate ended the first half the stronger, but when the half time whistle blew at 0-0 Chatham had dominated the possession and had created more goal scoring opportunities.

A heavy shower during the half time interval left the pitch a little slippery, although the rain had all but stopped by the time the match restarted.  The second half started with Ramsgate again creating more chances and forcing a series of corners, but poor finishing and stout Chatham defence kept the match goalless.  On 58 minutes Chatham captain Gary Ward made a good break down the left wing, but was unable to get in a cross.

And then on 65 minutes Ramsgate took the lead.  There seemed little danger as Sherwood took the ball on the left 25 yards out, but he was able to get in a long range shot which went straight into the net.  But almost at once, Chatham could have been level.  Restell near the goal line on the right crossed to Matt Solly who passed back to Jason Barton, but Barton’s shot went wide.

Ten minutes later, and Ramsgate were two goals up.  A long ball down the right was crossed into a crowded goal area, and Lovell managed to shoot through the crowd and double his team’s lead.  Although Chatham forced a series of corners in the closing minutes, and an Anthony Hogg effort went narrowly over the bar, a goal just refused to come, and the final whistle left Ramsgate the 2-0 winners.

Chatham Town 0 Ramsgate 2 (Sherwood 65, Lovell 74)
Team: Molloy, Laker, Barton, Solly, J Hogg, Hunt, Potter (A Hogg 52), Ward (Maskell 72), Fuller, Restell, O'Shea (Winchcombe 66). Subs not used: Mitchell, Watson.
Cautioned: Maskell.
Referee: Mr C Hatzidakis (Kent).
Attendance: 121.

Chatham Town will look for a return to winning ways on Saturday as they embark on the longest away trip that this season’s Ryman League Division One South has to offer and visit Bognor Regis Town.  Bognor have been relegated twice in as many seasons after a spell in Conference South, but are faring better this season and a crowd of over 300 can be expected.