Ramsgate 0 v Horsham 2
Saturday 14th April 2007
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham made it a league double over last season’s Division One champions with a surprise victory at the Rams' Southwood Stadium that saw them move into eighth place at the expense of their Kent opponents. Both clubs have enjoyed a successful debut in the Isthmian League top flight following their joint promotion last season and sat on the fringes of the play-off places until recently only to slip out of the chase after a series of disappointing results. With only pride at stake, then, it was the Hornets who showed the greater desire to succeed against a strong Ramsgate side with the eager running of 16 year old striker Dean Wright causing havoc in the home defence and who, with a little more composure, might have been celebrating his first goal for the club.

There was encouraging news for the few supporters who made the long journey to the Kent coast with Jacob Mingle and Kevin Hemsley returning from injury and both were included in the starting line-up at the expense of Andy Walker, whose starring role in the midweek draw with Worthing seems likely to be his last in Horsham colours after announcing his intention to emigrate to Australia, and the over-used Jamie Baxter took a deserved rest on the substitutes' bench. Although the Rams kicked off it was John Westcott who had the first opportunity. Going past Dean Hill out wide, he won a corner off the covering Simon Pettit and the kick found Eddie French at the near post but the skipper's misdirected header resulted in a goal-kick for the hosts. At the other end, a quick break put Stuart Vahid in on goal but Tom Graves' presence was enough to put the Rams' raider off and Gareth Williams was able to complete the save. Williams was the recipient of some light hearted banter from the home fans when he completely mistimed a pass from Graves and was extremely fortunate to see the clearance land at Andy Howard’s feet instead of the in rushing Shaun Welford. Both teams were finding it hard to control the ball as the dry weather made the ground very hard and a keen breeze blowing across the pitch towards the only stand was causing problems of its own. Horsham broke into the Rams' half and a through ball to Wright found the young forward with his back to goal. The perfect lay off into Graves' path saw his instant shot saved at the second attempt by former Lewes goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson who was making his first appearance against the Hornets since colliding with Carl Rook in last year's Sussex Senior Cup final, an incident that was to hospitalise the Horsham man with broken ribs. A quickly taken corner from the right was laid back into skipper Warren Schultz’s path but his first time effort went so wide it actually went out for a throw in but the hosts were still dangerous on breakaways and a snap shot from Vahid went too close to Horsham’s goal for comfort. However, it was the visitors who were to take the lead, after just nine minutes, when Rook controlled a pass from Mingle and touched it off to Geard who struck it beautifully with his less favoured right foot past the static 'keeper for his first goal of the season. Stunned by the goal, the home bench were soon berating referee Frank Meilack when he awarded a free kick in favour of Horsham, after French had clearly been manhandled by Welford, before an excellent cross by Westcott fell at Mingle’s feet only for the midfielder to execute the perfect 'air shot' to earn mocking comments from the home supporters, his embarrassment saved further punishment by the complete lack of Lardies present. A superb through ball by Vahid put Welford in on the Hornets goal but the Rams' leading scorer was denied when Williams raced quickly off his line to save at the striker's feet, unaware that the linesman was flagging for an offside decision. Geard's frustrating inclination to engage in verbal exchanges with the match official was in evidence once again when he was cautioned for dissent after being fouled and the midfielder's disciplinary record is something that the Horsham management team must work on for next season if they are to avoid further costly suspensions to their small squad. Ramsgate had opportunities to draw level but Hill’s chipped shot was wide of the post and a disputed free-kick found Vahid closing in on goal but Williams' save maintained the Hornets' advantage although it came at a cost as the winger's momentum saw him make contact with the 'keeper resulting in lengthy treatment for the Horsham man. Another free kick by Warren Schultz hit the wall with the ball rebounding to Burton but his shot, although on target, was well held by the recovered Williams. Meanwhile, Geard's free-kick caused Wilkerson few problems after Rook had been fouled by Ollie Schulz. The match was entering a scrappy spell with the game frequently held up for minor incidents. Simon Pettit required treatment after landing heavily following a superbly timed tackle by French, Rook was lambasted by his coach for straying offside and ruining a good break and the Horsham striker was booked for a challenge on Liam Morris, when the assistant felt he had led with his elbow, leading to an outburst from the home bench that saw Mr Meilack dish out a telling off any mother would be proud of. The Horsham bench received the same treatment a few moments later, when protesting at the treatment meted out on Wright by Ollie Schulz, and Westcott's resulting free kick saw Wright lift his foot and let the ball go to the advancing Hemsley but the defender's shot just missed the far post by a whisker. Wright was chasing down all the back passes, generally putting the defence under pressure, and a hasty clearance was picked up by Graves whose ball through to Rook was helped on to Wright inside the penalty area. The striker just needed to steady himself before shooting but his execution was slightly snatched and the shot went well wide. With everyone wondering when the half would end (the official played an extra nine minutes) there was still time for another shot from Hemsley that went wide after Rook had held the ball up well. Shane Graham also had a good chance but, cutting in from the left, his right foot shot worried the corner flag more than the Rams' 'keeper as he sliced his effort badly off the outside of his boot. The home side made a substitution in the fourth minute of added time, Vahid being replaced by Akwasi Edusei, but still the official let play continue and Horsham were forced into some desperate defending as the Rams forced two corners with Williams hanging determinedly on to the ball as Mr Meilack finally brought the first half to a close.

Due to the prolonged first half, the second period didn’t get underway until 4.13pm with several supporters opting to remain inside the clubhouse to watch the Grand National. The Hornets followers who hadn't had a bet on 33/1 winner Silver Birch would have been further disappointed to have missed a tremendous start by their side that saw their lead extended within three minutes of the restart. Westcott had the first chance when he took a free kick from just outside the area but his shot was wide of the near post, curling away from the goal for a goal kick. Wright and Rook then combined to set up a shot for Geard and, almost immediately, Westcott tried a long range effort from twenty five yards that went wide of Wilkerson’s post. The pressure Horsham were applying was duly rewarded a minute later when Rook pounced on to a through ball, homing in on goal to hit his shot low into the bottom corner of the net after his initial effort had rebounded back off the 'keeper's legs. The home side, who had been on the back foot for the opening exchanges, now realised they needed to push forward if they were to retrieve the situation but the four central defenders that made up the visitors' defence held firm, restricting the hosts to mainly long range shots. Hemsley, short on match practise following his injury lay off, was given a lecture by the referee for a slightly late challenge then, some four minutes later, was shown the yellow card for dissent by a referee who was increasingly taking centre stage - much to the frustration of the supporters and officials of both teams. Pettit teed up a chance for Welford in the fifty eighth minute but the big striker’s shot was off target and, within a minute, the ball found its way into the Hornets net via a good shot from Andy Hadden only to hear the whistle go before it had hit the back of the net, the goal apparently ruled out for an infringement involving Welford. In an attempt to inject some life into his side, Ramsgate manager Jim Ward replaced Pettit with Mark Munday but it was Horsham who had the next couple of chances, Geard guilty of putting his cross too close to Wilkerson but Graves' header from a long Andy Howard throw in caused more concern as it whistled just over the bar. With twenty minutes left, Ward played his last card surprisingly replacing skipper Warren Schultz with Emlyn Taylor, Schulz cutting a disconsolate figure as he trudged straight to the changing rooms instead of the bench. Shane Graham was seeing slightly more of the ball in the second half and he showed good skill when playing the ball between the legs of Burton, when pinned in by the corner flag, before putting in an inviting cross only to see Schultz stick out a leg to divert the ball away to safety. Welford’s header at the other end was claimed by Williams while Westcott’s corner, from Horsham’s next attack, saw Wilkerson having to punch away the cross from Rook’s head, fractionally missing making contact with the striker's face. An unpunished challenge on Geard saw the Horsham man helped from the pitch, holding his back, to be replaced by Jamie Baxter for the last twelve minutes leading to a reshuffle in the Hornets' defence with Baxter slotting in at right back, Howard moving across to the left back position and Graves filling Geard’s role in midfield. Williams was forced into an heroic save, diving at the feet of the nimble Edusei, but shortly afterwards he was lying on the ground and in need of attention, possibly still suffering from his earlier knock, and Maggs wasted little time in sending on Alan Mansfield for the remaining seven minutes. Westcott was denied a repeat of his spectacular strike at Leatherhead last season when he received the ball out wide on the right only for Wilkerson to advance outside of his penalty area to make the block with the big 'keeper perhaps fortunate that the linesman deemed the ball to have hit his chest rather than his hands. It was Horsham’s front men who seemed to be getting the chances and, with time rapidly running out, Rook picked the ball up wide on the left before sending in a cross that almost found the brave head of Wright who was just pipped to it by Burton at the expense of a corner. Westcott then hit a perfect through ball for Wright to show his pace and he intelligently held up play while waiting for help from Graham who proceeded to knock a pass into Mingle’s path but his shot was too close to Wilkerson who made a routine save. A quick kick upfield almost caught the Hornets napping allowing Edusei to get a shot on target that Mansfield saved. A blinding shot from Hill hit a body in the Horsham penalty area and rebounded to safety as the referee, as in the first half, added a load of extra time to the ninety. There was still time for Horsham to win a corner, for Mingle to be shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away and for a long shot from Yianni to be cleared before Mr Meilack brought the game to a close. With a total of fifteen added minutes it was like playing a first half of extra time!

The Hornets were finally able to celebrate a Saturday win, their first in six weeks, and the smiles on the faces of the Horsham players as they left the pitch was just reward for a workmanlike display during which they were continually urged on by their inspirational skipper. By comparison, the Ramsgate players were kept out on the pitch for at least ten further minutes probably wondering how they can beat Horsham next season after losing their last three matches against John Maggs' side. Perhaps Horsham have become someone’s bogey team at last!

Ramsgate: 1.Paul Wilkerson 2.Ashley Burton 3.Dean Hill 4.Liam Morris 5.Ollie Schulz 6.Simon Pettit (Munday) 7.Michael Yianni 8.Warren Schulz (Taylor) 9.Shaun Welford 10.Andy Hadden 11.Stuart Vahid (Edusei) Substitutes: 12.Mark Munday 14.Akwasi Edusei 15.Emlyn Taylor 16.James Gregory 17.Jurgen Wild

Horsham: 1.Gareth Williams 2.Andy Howard 3.Matt Geard 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Jacob Mingle 7.Tom Graves  8.John Westcott 9.Dean Wright 10.Carl Rook 11.Shane Graham.
Substitutes: 12.Jamie Baxter 14.Nigel Brake 15.Lewis Taylor 17.Alan Mansfield

Goalscorers:

Horsham - Geard (9), Rook (48)

Attendance: 260