Eastbourne 0 Ramsgate 1

Ramsgate overcame the early loss of Aaron Beech through injury, and a very bumpy and hard pitch, to record a league double over their hapless hosts Eastbourne Town at The Saffrons.

Ramsgate were quickest off the mark in difficult conditions when Stuart Vahid, making his first start since his return, almost latched onto a Beech centre. Eastbourne attempted a counter but the Rams’ defence, superbly marshalled by Liam Quinn, held firm, with Brad Manton being halted several times by Quinn’s intervention.

Following Beech’s departure Mitchell Sherwood moved forward with Ryan Harker taking over the right back role. A break by Joe Goldsmith was again thwarted by Quinn before a brilliant overhead effort by Vahid was stopped by the home ‘keeper. Eastbourne’s tricky winger Sam Crabb was causing the left side of the Rams’ defence problems but the home team found chances few and far between as the Rams’ defence tightened their grip on the game. It came as no surprise when the dangerous Vahid put the Rams ahead in the 37th minute after a Quinn effort from a corner was blocked.

Eastbourne’s manager rang the changes at half time but his frustrations began to spill over to his increasingly tetchy team, frustrated by the domination of the excellent Rams’ defence. Liam Quinn headed just wide on 53 after being put through by a Vahid header, while a rare Eastbourne chance was headed wide by Brooks 5 minutes later.

As the match moved into the last 15 Sherwood made a great attempt from 50 yards with the ‘keeper out of his goalmouth, but the bumpy pitch hampered his control just enough to prevent the shot being accurate. Substitute Tim Rivers effort was well saved by Smelt on 85. The match ended with Eastbourne manager Bloor screaming at his players on the pitch while Rams took the well deserved applause of the visiting fans.

Ramsgate: Jack Smelt, Mitchell Sherwood, James Gregory, Luke Wheatley, Liam Quinn, Ben Laslett (c), Aaron Beech (Ryan Harker 12), Mark Lovell, Simon Pettit, Stuart Vahid (Curtis Winnett 81). Unused Subs: Ollie Gray, Joe Taylor and Brett Mills.