26th Sept Youth Round-Up

Three wins and a draw out of four games today for Ramsgate’s Kent Youth League teams, while in the East Kent Youth League there were three wins and one loss.

 Kent Youth League

 The Under 18s followed up their 5-2 FA Youth Cup victory on Thursday night against Colliers Wood United with a 5-2 win over Deal Town Rangers at Southwood today to keep their winning run going. The Rams took the lead through George Amber, but an unsuccessful clearance into a strong wind saw the ball return towards the home goal, allowing Deal to head in an equaliser. Amber scored again to re-take the lead, with Ramsgate leading 2-1 at halftime. In the 2^nd half Amber completed his hat-trick while Chris Rigden and Luke Furness pushed the score up to 5-1. Deal got a 2^nd goal in the closing minutes from a 30 yard screamer, but too late to have much impact on another convincing win from the Rams.

The Under 16s visited Folkestone Invicta and brought home a point following a 1-1 draw, which would usually be a reasonable result but it really was 2 points squandered today according to manager Kevin Powell. From first minute to last the Rams dominated the play but a combination of great goalkeeping, bad luck, 5 goal line clearances and some errant finishing restricted the Rams to 1 goal. That goal came 15 minutes from the end following a superb driven cross from Ollie Sharpe, which their ‘keeper could only get a hand to and allowed Shane Mitchell to smash home the equaliser. Invicta’s goal was scored 5 minutes earlier when, on 1 of only 2 or 3 attacks they had in the whole game, they scored from 20 yards through a bunch of defenders who were maybe a little slow to close down the loose ball that broke free from a wrongly awarded free kick. Also worth a mention is the wonder save produced by ‘keeper Josh Mattless to deny Invicta on their other attempt on goal. The players and coaching staff all felt disappointed with the result and can’t remember a team dominating a game so much yet not winning it. Even the Invicta manager said to Kev Powell “How on earth did we get a point out of that?” but Kev couldn’t answer, as he didn’t know either. Whatever the circumstances the result was 1-1 and the lads have to move on and look forward – Maidstone United away next week will be another tough game. Thanks also to 1^st Team coach Richard Langley for coming to watch and supporting the lads.

The Under 15s ended up winners in this exciting 7 goal thriller against League new boys Sheerness East. Ramsgate started strong and played some good attacking football from the off, finding the net twice in the first twenty minutes only to be ruled out by some dubious decisions from the Sheerness club linesman. Sheerness started to find their form and following some pressure scored against the run of play, which unsettled the Rams and a second was soon to follow. The Rams managed to pull one back before the break when the impressive Dominic Crawford netted his first of the season. Following the break Ramsgate came out chasing the game and were once again denied by another close shout for offside following Kane Rowland netting after the ‘keeper failed to smother a Jack Grainger shot. The Rams never gave up the battle and when Kane Rowland hit the post with a twenty yard volley it looked that the leveller was soon to come, but the Sheerness frontline that created little chances pounced on a defensive unforced error to put the visitors 3-1 up. Ramsgate never gave up and continued to dominate the game knowing that they deserved something from the match. With 10 minutes remaining Daniel Barrett, who led the attack, netted following some great build-up play. Jack Grainger pulled the Rams level two minutes before the end of normal time as Sheerness fought to hold their nerve. And when Daniel Barrett’s shot was pushed away by the ‘keeper Dominic Crawford’s effort was once again ruled out by the Sheerness linesman. Then, with only seconds left on the clock, the Rams mounted their final raid on the Sheerness goal and up went the linesman’s flag again, only to be overruled by the referee and when the ‘keeper saved the initial shot Mason Webb was there to smash home the winner for the Rams. Although the usual watertight defence was breached three times during the game, left back Ben Davies had an outstanding game and picked up Man of the Match for the second time this season.

The Under 14s game at Sittingbourne was cancelled as the young Rams were short of players.

The Under 13s welcomed Sheerness East to Pfizer, and collected all three points after a 12-0 win. The young Rams’ goals came from Harris Rodgers (2), Seb Rowland, Jacob Price, Dan Adams (3), Mitchell Laing (2), James Price, Alfie Dickinson and Dan Vinson.

East Kent Youth League

The Under 18s were without a game today.

The Under 16s controlled the game at Herne Bay Youth for most of the first half, creating numerous chances to score. Tommy Armstrong broke the deadlock in the 26^th minute when he hit a superb 25 yard shot into the top right hand corner of the net to put the Rams 1-0 up, but the Rams failed to capitalise on the other chances they created in the 1^st half. The 2^nd half saw the Rams take the game to Bay and Mitchell Knight hit his fourth goal in three games, when he scored after 60 minutes. The Rams looked to be totally in control of the game, with ‘keeper Ryan Brown having very little to do, when against the run of play Bay scored a goal on 67 minutes. With the Rams determined not to let their lead slip, the boys pushed for another goal and were rewarded on 75 minutes, when Dean James scored the goal of the game. He ran from the half way line, beating half a dozen Bay defenders on his way, to calmly slip the ball into the net and secure all three points.  A fully deserved 3-1 win for the boys in what proved to be very wet and difficult conditions..

The Under 15s ran out winners at Canterbury City in their Division 1 encounter. A well taken header from a corner led to Ryan Cambray’s first, and Connor Buddle should have made it two when put clean through but hit the bar. But Yiannis Papa-Adams struck five minutes later to put the Rams 2-0 up at the interval. In the 2^nd half Canterbury fought back to 2-1 but a superb Lewis Coot freekick from 30 yards hit the bar and Cambray pounced for his 2^nd. Harry Kirkby made a great save late on to frustrate Canterbury, while Haydn Thomas and Joe Smith again caught the eye for the Rams.

The Under 13s were without a game today, as were the Under 12s.

The Under 12 A team welcomed Thanet Colts A to Clarendon Sports Fields on a dismal and windy Sunday morning, the young Rams full of confidence after victory the previous weekend. The game got off to a scrappy start with the conditions affecting matters and neither team really settled. Following an unlucky handball decision, and Ramsgate failing to play to the whistle, it was Thanet Colts who took the lead. However, Ramsgate were soon on level terms when Matthew Short, who worked tirelessly all game, provided an opportunity for the lively Louis Clarke who neatly slotted home at the far post. Despite Ramsgate having most of the play and applying pressure with several good corners, the score remained level at 1-1 through to half time. In the 2^nd half Ramsgate started strongly and the impressive Billy Munday made the necessary impact to get the reds back in front. A fine cross from Billy found the head of Ollie Harris who notched up his second of the season. As is often the case following a goal, Ramsgate were guilty of dropping off and Thanet Colts broke quickly to equalise and set up a tense finish. But with around five minutes to go, Ramsgate won a free kick 25 yards out. Matthew Short delivered another great set piece, which Charlie James neatly controlled and finished with aplomb. This left the imperious Stephen Dolan and Jack Field as Ramsgate centre backs to close out the game. A difficult and well competed game finished 3-2 to Ramsgate. Another fine team performance and effort maintained Ramsgate’s 100% start to the season. Another stern test follows next week as Ramsgate travel to face a strong Trinity team.

The Under 11s were at home to Trinity, where both teams battled in the rain to end up 1-1 at the interval, with the final score 4-3 to the visitors. Scott Roddam scored all three Ramsgate goals from freekicks, while Trinity’s winner came immediately before the final whistle when a Ramsgate defender cleared the ball off the line when it hit a team mate’s head and rebounded into the net.