Whitstable 1 Rams 0

After two pitch inspections this morning, one at 11am and another at 1230pm, the pitch at The Belmont was given the all clear and saw Whitstable’s biggest league gate of the season so far of 301 turn out for the day-after-Boxing Day encounter with the Rams. With both teams having good chances, it fell to former-Ram Stuart Vahid to score against the club where he started as a youth, when he turned in ex-Ram Michael Yianni’s cross in the 93^rd minute to give the Oystermen their first league win since September.

The Rams seemed to settle before their hosts, and with 10 minutes gone Mark Lovell volleyed from 25 yards but his shot flew over Kevin Fewell’s crossbar. Another chance fell to the Rams six minutes later when James Gregory’s run was halted by Moncur’s foul, and Warren Schulz’s freekick fizzed just over. Schulz had two more close range efforts in the following minutes – one straight at the ‘keeper and the other just wide. Whitstable’s first real chance should have been converted when, Gregory brought down Lloyd Blackman in the area in the 20^th minute and ex-Ram Ian Pulman stepped up to take he spot kick. But ‘keeper Jack Smelt was more than up to the task, and after parrying the first attempt he also blocked the striker’s follow-up. Four minutes later and Pulman had another chance, when it seemed his header was on target, but Smelt thwarted him again as he tipped the ball over. A few minutes later and a good run by Pulman saw him lay the ball off to Blackman, but he bent his shot wide. Just after the half hour and the Rams nearly got the opener, when a clever flick from Paul Axon was met by Lovell, but his volley from inside the area was blocked by Fewell’s legs. Five minutes ater and Pulman went close again, when Smelt was off his line and his lob from near the touchline seemed to have the ‘keeper at a disadvantage, only for the ball to hit the cross bar, and in the 39^th minute Yianni rifled in a volley from just outside the area, but Smelt pushed it round the post. Then, with four minutes remaining to the interval, the Rams had to introduce Gary Lockyer for Sammy Cliff, who had picked up an injury in an earlier challenge that he couldn’t shake off.

The 2^nd half continued much as the 1^st had left off and, after Curtis Winnett came on for Axon in the 56^th minute, Gary Lockyer came agonisingly close to the opener two minutes later when his shot caught a slight deflection and spun inches wide. Just after the hour mark Yianni was also rewarded when his cross looked like it might end up in the top corner, but it drifted harmlessly onto the roof of the net. In the 72^nd minute Whitstable made their first change, with another ex-Ram Danny Wisker replacing Moncur. Two minutes later and Lovell connected well with a Lockyer corner, but the striker’s header missed by the smallest fraction. As the game entered the last ten minutes of play there were chances at both ends, with Lockyer curling a shot just wide of the post, and Pulman’s effort being saved by Smelt. With the game moving into stoppage time Whitstable made their 2^nd change, with Vahid replacing Pulman, and two minutes later it seemed the points would be shared when Smelt pulled off a great save to push Yianni’s shot past the post, but a minute later the two ex-Rams combined to beat their former club when Vahid latched onto Yianni’s low cross.

Ramsgate: Jack Smelt, Ryan Harker, James Gregory, Ollie Gray, Liam Quinn (c), (c), Mitchell Sherwood, Aaron Beech, Warren Schulz, Mark Lovell, Sammy Cliff (Gary Lockyer 41), Paul Axon (Curtis Winnett 56). Unused Subs: Luke Wheatley and Brett Mills.