Ramsgate’s FA Cup dream may well be over after losing 5-0 at AFC Wimbledon in the Second Round, but they depart with their heads held high having done Kent proud.
Ali Al-Hamadi scored twice and set up a third as AFC Wimbledon cruised into the next round, but Ramsgate gave a good account of themselves despite the gulf in levels.
The travelling Rams started the evening as the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and trailed after just eight minutes when 21-year-old striker Al-Hamadi pounced on a loose pass to feed Jake Reeves, who rifled a brutal strike into the top-left corner.
The hosts doubled their advantage when Al-Hamadi poked home at the far post after a melee in the box, though eighth-tier Ramsgate missed a glorious chance to halve the deficit shortly before half time.
After a wicked cross from Jack Parter, Tijan Jadama’s close-range header was pushed clear and a glorious chance fell to former Manchester United trainee Lee Martin, who could only blaze over from seven yards.
Less than two minutes later, the game was sealed as Josh Neufville fired into the bottom corner after Al-Hamadi’s shot was saved inside the box.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans then found the bottom right corner after a brilliant turn and spin to put The Dons 4-0 up three minutes after half-time.
And Al-Hamadi scored his second of the match five minutes later, intercepting another poor Rams pass before smashing beyond Tom Hadler for his 11th goal of the season.
Wimbledon searched for a sixth but had to settle for five, just as they did in the first round against Cheltenham Town, after excellent defensive work from Joe Ellul and Jack Paxman.
Reward for AFC Wimbledon is a home tie in the third round against Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town.
1,400 visiting supporters – double their average home attendance – wouldn’t let the scoreline dampen their spirits as ‘Ramsgate are massive’ continued to reverberate out from the away end.
“I’m immensely proud,” Ramsgate boss Ben Smith said. “We’re little old Ramsgate. It’s not about this night. It’s about the journey that’s got us here.”
Smith has every right to be proud of his Ramsgate side as they put the East Kent coast very much on the map, taking the town on an incredible journey that will long in the memory of many.
AFC Wimbledon : Bass; Biler (Ogundere 63), Lewis (Pearce 86), Johnson, Currie; Neufville, Reeves © (Ball 86), Little, Lemonheigh-Evans; Al Hamadi (Davison 63), Bugiel (Sasu 82).
Subs not used: Tzanev, Brown, Tilley, Pell.
Goals: Reeves 8, Al Hamadi 26 + 53, Neufville 43, Evans 48.
Booked: Biler, Lemonheigh-Evans, Little.
Ramsgate : Hadler; Anidugbe (Paxman 76), Young, Ellul (Christie 64), Parter; West ©, Martin (Oliver 87); Green, Jadama (Holdon 87), Bioletti (Elito 76); Taylor
Subs not used: Johnson, Procopi, Hennessey, Simmonds.
Attendance: 6,894 (1,400 Ramsgate)
Referee: Christopher Pollard