Leatherhead 3 Ramsgate 1
By Steve Tervet
Ramsgate have now gone 11 games without a league win after they let slip a 1-0 lead against Leatherhead on Saturday to suffer yet another defeat.
Since their 3-0 triumph over Eastbourne Town on December 12, the Rams have taken just seven points from a possible 33 and only their early-season endeavours are keeping them above the relegation dogfight with 12 fixtures remaining.
Jim Ward takes his side to Ashford Town on Wednesday hoping to arrest the alarming slump, but the signs are not good following Saturday’s sorry showing in Surrey.
Luke Wheatley, having signed from local rivals Margate, went straight into the centre of Ramsgate’s defence alongside Will Graham, returning to the side after injury.
That meant a move forward into midfield for Liam Quinn, while Joe Taylor continued to partner Tom Tsangarides up front, with Gary Mickelborough only fit enough for a place on the substitutes’ bench.
The new-look defence held firm in a goalless first-half although they did have goalkeeper Danny Twyman to thank after he pulled off a superb save to keep the scores level.
Things were looking up for Ramsgate 10 minutes into the second period as Taylor popped up to score his first goal since making the move across Thanet from Hartsdown Park.
However, the lead was cancelled out in the 65th minute as Greg Andrews pounced on a mistake by Twyman to level the scores.
Andrews was to provide Ramsgate’s tormentor for the remainder of the afternoon and he could have doubled his tally with a free-kick which flew past the wall but came crashing back off Twyman’s crossbar.
Ward threw on top scorer Mickelborough for Taylor in an attempt to snatch victory but there was no stopping Andrews, who gave Leatherhead the lead with 13 minutes remaining.
The result was then put beyond any doubt at Andrews completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute, this time firing a fierce free-kick beyond Twyman to leave Ramsgate contemplating their 10h defeat of the season.
Leatherhead leapfrog the Rams in the Ryman South table, with Ward’s side dropping to 14th, 15 points from the drop zone but 13 adrift of the play-offs.
POSTED: 08/03/2010 15:25:12
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