60s Away To Ramsgate - Match Report

This was the another big test for 60s against a Ramsgate team that had always proved a strong opposition and a team that we had run close to but had never beaten in a competitive league match.

Ramsgate started strongly and were keen to play the ball up to their striker with the aim of him rolling his defender and getting a strike away. Mike marshalled him well and they had to rely on their supporting midfielders to get up and play off of him. Within the first few minutes Ramsgate had given away a non walking offence and this really became a theme throughout the their play.

Our midfield tracked well and defended resolutely to absorb all of the initial pressure. We then started to grow into the game. From a strong defensive stance we started to get our offence going. We found space down the flank, especially our right, where John R was picking the ball up and feeding the ball through to Shaun. Ramsgate were happy to sit in and play narrow which meant that there was very little space through the middle.

The majority of the game was played in the centre third with possession often changing when forward passes were either intercepted or overhit. The Ramsgate forward was now getting clearly frustrated with the lack of balls up to him and we were getting equally unsettled when we struggled to play flowing football and watching our final balls through going awry.

Shaun was getting balls through and the midfielders were getting up to support but not being found. Both teams did create a couple of half chances but Ramsgate shots were easily held by Steve E or seen to go well wide. We did work their keeper with Steve R and Rob having chances but nothing was converted and the half time whistle came without there having been any scoring.

We agreed in the break we needed to tighten up on our passing and concentrate on getting a good final ball through to create better chances. We knew we were solid at the back and so we hoped that opportunities would come if Ramsgate started to tire.

The second period started as the first had finished with ball in the centre of the pitch and possession being exchanged between the teams. Eventually, we finally got our passing game together and when we moved the ball swiftly and to feet Ramsgate were forced to chase us. They had already committed 3 non walking offences so were in jeopardy of giving away a penalty so they were trying to be careful but always seemed to be playing on the edge.

We did, however, start to push them back and began to press higher. Ramsgate were getting starved of possession and the ball seemed to remain within their half. Their keeper was now struggling to find an outlet and was forced into trying to play the ball through the middle which we started to read and intercept. They were sitting deeper and we found that their striker was easily isolated and we had space to push into with Den getting up to support.

An attempted clearance by their keeper was easily picked off by Steve R and he beat his marker and sent a low shot from distance low to the keeper's left which he got a hand to but it squirmed under his arm and trickled into the net. We finally had the lead.

We were forced into a substitution after Rob started limping having rolled his ankle and Andy C came on to play on our left. Within minutes Andy found himself through and inside the defender but his shot was always rising and flew just over the bar.

We now certainly on top and looked the most likely to score again. Ramsgate were keen to get back on terms and began to push more players forward, trying to hit us on a counter-attack. Our defensive line was robustly up to the task and with the midfield tracking resolutely we continued to keep them at arms length.

With about 5 minutes to go and the game still very much in the balance, our press again paid off and Steve R again intercepted an attempted clearance by their keeper and this time beat him cleanly to his right and we were now two clear.

We managed the remaining minutes well passing the ball around and not really offering Ramsgate much possession at all. They managed to get a couple more half chances but nothing was converted and the game came to its conclusion with us victorious again. Final score was Ramsgate 0 - 2 Canterbury.

My thanks to they squad that all put in another shift in what was, initially, some horrid conditions. There is some work to do for our passing but the effort and stamina shown cannot be faulted.

My special thanks go to Jan, Colin and Paul D who were all unused substitutes and whilst warm and ready, were not needed.

The Player Of The Match for his control in midfield and two well taken goals was Steve R.

Paul