Ramsgate Away Match Report

The Blues made the lengthy trip to table-topping Ramsgate at the weekend hoping to bounce back from the chastening defeat against Cray.

Jay Lovett made three changes to his starting line up with Mario Gjini making his first start for the Club, Cameron Dobell and Richard Pingling also returning to the first 11.

Heath started brightly and the first 10 minutes were fairly even with both sides pressing aggressively whilst trying to be progressive in attack on the pristine 4g surface.

It was Heath who were to have the first shot on goal, Ben Holden driving forward from right back to link up with Dobell. He cut inside and exchanged passes with Pingling but Cameron’s shot was blocked and a corner was forced from the rebound.

Heath again came close to taking the lead in the 11^th minute from an unlikely source. A back pass from just inside the Ramsgate half was completely misjudged by the Ramsgate keeper, letting the ball slide under his foot. His blushes were spared as the ball went just wide of his left hand post.

Heath were playing some of their best football of campaign and were regularly getting good possession in the attacking third.

In the 20^th minute a diagonal ball over the Ramsgate defence from Gjini allowed Dobell to use his pace to find space on the right. His cross took a deflection before being turned home by Michael Uwezu for his first goal for the Club.

Ramsgate were desperate for a way back into the game and found it in just 9 minutes later when a corner from the Heath left was met with a bullet header by Olomowewe which flew past Collings in the Blues’ goal.

This was a different Heath side though, and it took them just 3 minutes to regain the lead, aggressive pressing from the front three and midfield led to Cadman being able to win the ball high up the pitch. His pass found Pingling in space, and he was able to move the ball on quickly to Uwesu. He in turn found Honore on the edge of the box who was able to drive home into the bottom corner.

Ramsgate, perhaps surprised at the challenges being set by the Heath team made a change at halftime, Olopade replacing Prescott. It would however be The Blues next on the scoresheet. Dickson’s corner from the Heath right being turned in at the near post with a fantastic finish by Dean Gunner on the turn. Heath looked dominant and Ramsgate at this point were all at sea.

As the game progressed Ramsgate got more direct in their play as they couldn’t find a way through Heath’s solid defence. On the occasions they did manage to get through, they found Collings in fine form. Heath had certainly looked good value for the three points at this stage, and there was disbelief as the referee indicated that there would be 7 minutes of additional time.

A weakness for Heath this season has been conceding too many freekicks in dangerous areas, and this was to prove to be the case again in stoppage time, a free kick whipped in from the Blues’ left resulted in a melee in the six-yard box. The ball appeared to strike the junction of crossbar and post and the assistant referee decided that he’d seen enough to award the goal. Even from the replays this looked to be a very marginal decision.

Heath just needed to hold out for a further minute or so to take the three points back to Sussex, but unfortunately conceded possession cheaply, before giving away another free kick.

Ramsgate threw everyone forward and the delivery into the box was met by a towering header, Collings saving the initial effort before the rebound was acrobatically turned in by Kane Rowland. With two Ramsgate players in offside positions on the goal line, standing either side of Collings, Heath were left rueing two decisions from the assistant referee.

Whilst most involved from the Heath side would have taken a point before travelling to the Kent coast, this definitely felt like two points dropped after a great performance from the boys.