Two teams who were two leagues apart last season meet on Tuesday evening for the third time this season when Ramsgate host Welling United in an Isthmian League Premier Velocity Cup match.

Both clubs are now playing under different managers from their last encounter, less than two months ago.

Lee Martin started the season as manager of the Wings but is now player manager of the Rams. When Welling visited Thanet in October, Rod Stringer was their interim manager while a new boss was identified and appointed, and Ryan Maxwell is now in charge and rebuilding the squad.

On Saturday, Ramsgate travelled to Whitehawk and claimed a good point in a two-all draw. They went behind just after the fifteen minute point but went into the break ahead, courtesy of a brace by Billy Munday. The hosts levelled around the hour mark and Ramsgate suffered a late red card before the game ended all square.

Meanwhile, Welling were ending a run of seven consecutive league defeats with a much needed victory at home to Cheshunt. They took a first half lead through Sonny Black but were pegged back by a penalty mid way through the second period. The Wings went back ahead through a late Troy Howard volley before he set up a third for Femi Akinwande deep into stoppage time.  

When Welling hosted Ramsgate in September, the visitors won comfortably. Mitchell May had already put the Rams ahead when Welling’s Ruben Shakpoke was dismissed erroneously. Although the red card was rescinded subsequently, and he did not have to serve a suspension, the Wings were forced to play for over an hour with ten men.

Alfie Paxman put Ramsgate two-up ten minutes before half time and Donvieve Jones added a third ten minutes after the restart. Although Greg Cundle pulled one back for Welling, Joe Taylor’s goal ensured that the visitors were able to close the game out comfortably. 

In the return fixture, Welling avenged that loss with a two-one win on the coast. Joe Taylor put the hosts ahead in the nineteenth minute, however John Ufuah equalised one minute later. Logan Dobbs put the Wings ahead just before the hour mark then Ramsgate’s Tom Clifford was sent off for a second bookable offence. Moments later, the referee’s red card was out again when Jerome Binnom-Williams and Dobbs were involved in a bout of shoving and both were dismissed.

Although the Velocity Cup is not the first priority for either club, both managers have suggested that they shall be fielding strong sides, and that it will be a competitive encounter.

Picture supplied by Kieran North.