Met Police 3 Rams 0

Today the Rams travelled to Imber Court to face Met Police for the 2nd time in 11 days, and after a 1-1 draw at Southwood the Rams had hopes of an upset. However, the Rams will wish to forget about their trip as quickly as possible after an afternoon of disaster ended in a 3-0 defeat. The Police have not been beaten in the league for 7 months and from the moment the Rams’ late arrival caused kickoff to be delayed until 3.50pm it was always likely that this run would be extended.

The match was barely 8 minutes old when Gary Drewett fired the Police ahead. This was despite furious protests as Drewett had clearly fouled a Ramsgate defender in the process. At this stage the home team forward line was rampant and on 20 Brett Mills has to dash from his goal to foil a Police breakaway. A linesman adjudged that he had handled out of his area and referee Pike produced the red card leaving Ramsgate down to 10 men. This seemed to galvanise the visitors and with defender Ryan Harker having an outstanding game in goal, as replacement for the dismissed Mills, Ramsgate took the game to the home team. Therefore it was rather against the run of play when the Police went 2 up on 38 after James Field ran through the visiting defence.

The 2^nd half was dominated by Ramsgate, superbly marshalled by Ben Laslett and Simon Pettit who controlled the midfield. A Schulz header hit the post on 55 with the Police goalie beaten and with Tom Tsangarides a constant threat the visitors’ supporters remained hopeful. Ryan Harker produced 2 amazing saves and it was a surprise when in the 4^th minute of added time James Cottee gave the home team an undeserved 3 goal margin.

Ramsgate: Brett Mills, Curtis Winnett, Ryan Harker, Lee Hockey, Liam Quinn, Ben Laslett (c), Mitchell Sherwood, Warren Schulz, Mark Lovell (Sammy Cliff 66), Tom Tsangarides, Simon Pettit (Paul Axon 85). Unused subs: James Gregory, Matt Admans, George Amber.

Attendance: 77