RAMSGATE 2 WHITSTABLE TOWN 0
Velocity Trophy Group Seven
Tuesday 5 November 2019 19.45

A patched up Whitstable team failed to cause many problems for Ramsgate who now move six points above them; Ramsgate have one game to play and Whitstable two. The group winners will entertain Leatherhead in the last 32 and Ramsgate now just need to avoid defeat in their final game against Herne Bay to progress. Whitstable started poorly and it was no surprise when they fell behind, although there was more than a hint of offside about the goal by Liam Friend. Whitstable came closest to scoring following a corner in the 31st minute, but had several efforts blocked in quick succession. The best chances came at the other end however and Bode Anidugbe added a second after the break, converting a left wing cross. There might have been a bigger victory margin, but Dan Eason made a few good saves, including an Ashley Miller penalty.

Whitstable had not played during the previous weekend, although the team had travelled as far as Gatwick airport, before their game in Guernsey was postponed due to severe delays at the airline. Manager Lloyd Blackman was returning to his former club for the first time, but his preparations were disrupted through suspension, illness and injury. Jake Mackenzie had his one match ban carried over from the aborted trip to the Channel Islands and there were more problems in defence, as long term injury victim Marcus Evans was joined on the sidelines by fellow central defenders Tom Bryant and Liam Dickson. Luke Girt filled in at centre back alongside Josh Spencer and fellow midfielder Liam Gillies was moved to right back. Ramsgate gave a debut to Jude Arthurs, a young midfielder on loan from Bromley, whilst former Whitstable strikers Kane Rowland and Ashley Miller also started.

The pitch looked in good condition, but the weather was awful with a strong wind driving light rain across the ground, as fireworks lit up the misty night sky. The home team threatened from the start, as Whitstable looked off the pace in the opening stages. A deep cross by right back Jack Paxman was headed just over at the far post by Arthurs in the 1st minute and soon afterwards a move down the opposite wing led to Miller finding Michael Aziaya with a cross, but he shot straight at Eason. Whitstable did create one opportunity at the other end with a quick break, but Aaron Millbank was unable to find the finish. Ramsgate had the ball in the Whitstable net when Miller met another Paxman cross and Eason parried his shot into the path of Arthurs, who fired home, only to be denied by an offside flag. The opening goal duly arrived in the 10th minute following a corner that eventually was clipped forward into the box by Arthurs to Rowland, who helped it on to Friend and he found himself completely alone in the goalmouth with Eason. The Whitstable players appeared to stop and wait for an offside flag that never came, leaving the home captain the simple task of nodding the ball into the net.

Rowland had to be replaced by Rory Smith on 23 minutes, but the change did little to alter the pattern of play, although a long throw by the returning Connor Sanders was headed over the bar by Harry Stannard. It was a Stannard corner that led to Whitstable’s best moments of the half when a back post header and a couple of follow up shots were all blocked by the Ramsgate defence to preserve their lead. A weak shot by Bode Anidugbe was easily collected by Eason, before Whitstable almost found a way through in the 37th minute, when Gillies and Sanders combined to release Freddie Parker, but goalkeeper Tom Roberts was quickly out to gather the ball. The last action of the first half saw Arthurs curl a shot well over the bar and Ramsgate went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Whitstable failed to improve after the interval and Smith got past Girt in the 47th minute, but shot wide with just Eason to beat. Ramsgate then won a couple of corners that the Whitstable defence were able to clear. John Ufuah, who had looked the most likely to create something for Whitstable was hacked down by Friend as he tried to break clear, earning the home skipper the only yellow card of the night, but the resulting free kick was wasted. Aaron Lamont had a good game in midfield for Ramsgate and in the 58th minute he tried a very long range shot that slipped through the normally safe hands of Eason, but the goalkeeper was able to gather before the ball crossed the line. Whitstable carved out a chance to equalise when Ufuah delivered a good low cross from the right for Parker, but he lifted his shot over the bar. Marcus Elliott then replaced Stannard, but after Friend had headed a Ramsgate free kick wide, his team added a second in the 65th minute. Rob Saunders made a good run down the left wing and pulled the ball back for Bode Anidugbe, who shot low into the left hand corner, just out of reach of the diving Eason.

A weak clearance from the Whitstable goalkeeper was intercepted by Ramsgate and when the ball was worked into the box, Arthurs went down and the referee adjudged the challenge worthy of a penalty. Miller stepped forward, but Eason did well, diving to his left to push the ball around the post. Smith was twice thwarted, by a goal line clearance and then Eason, in the space of a couple of minutes, before Millbank turned on the edge of the box and shot just over at the other end. As the game entered added time, Whitstable had a few half chances without ever really looking convincing. Gillies won a challenge before shooting over the top, then he curled in a free kick that was glanced wide by Elliott, who had battled well after coming on as a substitute. Finally a long throw by Sanders was collected under his crossbar by Roberts and Ramsgate finished as the deserved 2-0 winners.

The Velocity Trophy group stage finishes this month, with the remaining Group 7 fixtures being:
Whitstable v Herne Bay (Nov 12)
Ramsgate v Herne Bay (Nov 19)
Ashford v Faversham (Nov 19)
Whitstable v Faversham (Nov 26)

The updated standings are:

*points include bonus for penalty shootout wins

Whitstable have no game on Saturday due to Hastings playing in the FA Trophy, so the next game is the Velocity Trophy derby against Herne Bay.

Ramsgate
Tom Roberts, Jack Paxman, Rob Saunders, Liam Friend (c), Jude Arthurs, Tom Wynter (Sam Bangura 66), Michael Aziaya, Aaron Lamont, Kane Rowland (Rory Smith 23), Ashley Miller (Harrison Avery 86), Bode Anidugbe.
Subs (unused): Sam Belsey, Jonathan Miles.
Goals: Liam Friend 10, Bode Anidugbe 65.
Yellow card: Liam Friend 53

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Liam Gillies, James Brown, Connor Sanders, Josh Spencer, Luke Girt (c), John Ufuah, Tijan Jadama, Aaron Millbank, Freddie Parker, Harry Stannard (Marcus Elliott 61).
Subs (unused): Leo Mazzone, Muhammed Cham, Caleb Afoke, Lewis Mitchell.

Attendance: 114
Referee: Peter Conn
Assistants: David Lunani & Billy Woods