A last minute penalty from Joe Taylor gave Ramsgate all three points as they look to close the gap between themselves and the Ryman South play-off places.
After a disappointing run of form since Christmas which saw them drop from 3rd in the table to 9th, an impressive 7-1 win over Carshalton in their previous match has given Jim and Danny Ward belief that their squad can still reach the top five positions. The brothers made three changes from their spectacular win two weeks earlier, all of these came in defence with Jake Mackenzie, Jack Penny and Luke Wheatley being replaced by Kane Smith, Ollie Gray and Kane Rowland.
Guernsey were coming off of a high scoring game themselves, their 6-2 win over Walton Casuals helped them into the final playoff place ahead of their trip to Thanet. However, the Green Lions hadn’t been able to win on the road since early December.
After a very even opening in which both Kane Rowland and Glyn Dyer were influential for their respective sides, it was the Rams who took the lead within twelve minutes. After Joe Taylor was the victim of a heavy tackle by Sam Cochrane, Ian Pulman stepped up and hit a low free kick past the wall and into the bottom corner of Christopher Tardif’s goal, giving his side the lead.
Ramsgate continued to push forward and to end swift attack from the hosts Kane Rowland was able to pull a cross back to Pulman who hit his shot just wide at the near post.
Despite being unable to create many chances, Guernsey were still keeping possession well, and their patience paid off after 26 minutes when a long ball from Guillermo Gonzalez in midfield allowed Dominic Heaume time and pace to hit a fantastic left footed strike past Luke Watkins at the goalkeeper’s near post.
The rest of the half continued in a similar way. Both sides had chances to get the ball forward, but neither were able to make the most of them meaning they went into half time at 1-1.
It took a matter of seconds for the first chance of the second half to occur. Straight from kick off Guernsey’s Ross Allen took the ball through the Ramsgate team and looked to chip Watkins, but the goalkeeper got a vital touch on the ball allowing Tom Loynes to track back and recover the loose ball.
Soon though, Ramsgate were back on the front foot. Craig Thompson set Ian Pulman through on goal, but Tardif did well to get off his line quickly and, after a goal line scramble, the hosts were only able to win a corner.
With time running out for the sides, both sets of players pushed on further as the search for a winner went on. Joe Taylor shocked the crown with a tremendous effort from 30 yards out which Tardif only just got his hands to and soon after Oliver Gray hit the post with a header following a cross from the Rams’ opposite full back, Tom Loynes.
With three minutes left the hosts continued to push players forward. At the third attempt Gray was only able to see his shot blocked whilst Joe Taylor and Craig Thompson continued to work off of each other.
The two were able to combine for the winning goal as well. With only two minutes remaining a quick counter attack allowed Thompson to make a powerful run into the Guernsey penalty area. The attacker was able to lay the ball off to Taylor to his right before being chopped down. Before the ex-Sittingbourne striker had the chance to take the chance the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Taylor to add to his five goals in the previous game by finishing calmly, allowing Ramsgate to keep all three points.
Thanks to other results from the teams around them, that result allows the Rams to move up to 7th in the table, just three points behind the final playoff place, which is still occupied by Guernsey. Their tough run of games will continue next week as they travel to third placed Dorking Wanderers.
Ramsgate: Watkins, Loynes, Gray, Kane, Smith, Girt, Rowland, Thompson, Pulman (Nyaruwa), Taylor, Treadwell
Subs not used: A Paxman, Jackson, Munday, Tonkin
Guernsey: Tardif, Geall, Strawbridge, Cochrane, Dodd, Le Provost, Dyer (Winch), Gonzalez, Young, Allen, Heaume
Subs not used: Pengelley, Legg
Referee: Mr A Ajibola
Assistants: Mr J Nazari & Mr D Mirzadeh