Merstham 1 Ramsgate 2

An injury depleted Ramsgate side dug deep to record a battling win against a revitalised Merstham team in Surrey. The home team had only won 1 match in 2011 and had been sliding alarmingly down the league. However 3 new signings were made in the hours before this game and all contributed to a spirited Moatsiders’ performance.

The Rams could not have made a better start, their first attack generated a Mitchell Sherwood corner and Liam Quinn rose unchallenged to head home from 15 yards in the 3^rd minute. Following comments made to the assistant, Merstham manager Andrew Martin was banished from the touchline – the second time Martin has met this fate against the Rams, having been sent off while a player with Whyteleafe. Merstham stormed into the attack, the long throws of Michael Corbett and the accurate corner taking of Adam Moriarty, coupled with the crowding of Jack Smelt, causing the Rams’ defence many problems. Dan Harding shot just over on 9 and eight minutes later a Harry Ottaway shot was well saved by Smelt. Harding also had a great chance on 20 but shot straight into the safe hands of Smelt. The Rams eventually broke out of defence and Stuart Vahid headed just wide after being presented with a chance by Warren Schulz. In the 33^rd minute a centre by Mitchell Sherwood was dummied by Vahid and the ball fell to James Gregory, whose powerful shot gave Ian Chatfield in the home goal no chance. A failure to clear gave Bradley Duke a tremendous chance to pull back the deficit, but his powerful was just wide in the 36^th minute. A cheeky back header by Vahid following a Sherwood centre was saved on 43.

The Rams had the first chance of the second half as a Sherwood effort was well saved on 48, but slowly the home team began to exert pressure and a great dribble through the Rams’ defence by Harding was stopped by a great block by Ollie Gray. Gray and Quinn were winning everything in the air at the back and, with Merstham’s skilful but slow midfield maestro Gareth Graham being chased out of the game by Simon Pettit and Ben Laslett the home team rang the changes. Dangerous striker Sean Rivers entered the fray and he was soon in action just over the bar when trying to lob Smelt on 74. A minute later it was Ottaway’s chance to miss a golden chance blasting over from 25 yards. In the 82^nd minute the Rivers pulled one back with a well placed trademark header following a Adam Moriarty free kick. Rather than inspire Merstham they then went off the boil and the final chances fell to Ramsgate with Simon Pettit and Stuart Vahid going close in the 86^th and 88^th minute respectively.

Ramsgate: Jack Smelt, Curtis Winnett, James Gregory, Ollie Gray, Liam Quinn, Ben Laslett (c), Mitchell Sherwood, Warren Schulz, Mark Lovell (Joe Taylor 83), Simon Pettit, Stuart Vahid. Unused subs: George Amber, Jack Kirkby, Paul Axon, Brett Mills.

Attendance 102