Ashford United secured a home Play Off Semi Final and all but clinched runners-up spot in the South East division whilst effectively ending Ramsgate push for post-season on a gloriously sunny afternoon at Homelands.

With just two games left in the regular season, Tommy Warrilow’s side are six points in front of third placed Haywards Heath and seven ahead of fourth placed Cray Valley, whilst Steve Lovell’s new side are now five points behind fifth placed Herne Bay…

The home side produced a first half display which had the game decided before the break as they lead in the opening minutes when Tommy Wagg headed home. Ben Fitchett gave the Rams some home when he also headed in from a corner, but a Gary Lockyer brace before half time effectively sealed the win, and when Mamadou Diallo’s shot evaded keeper Jacob Russell early in the second half killed the game as a contest as the points were Ashford’s. Substitute Karn Miller-Neave did pull one back in stoppage time but that would have been scant consolation for his new manager as the Rams wretched run continued.

Ashford’s start was just what Warrilow would have been dreaming of – Tashi-Jay Kwayie did well to win a corner down the left, and from the flag kick, Fagg powered home his eleventh goal of the campaign – a header past a hopelessly exposed Russell.

Questions were being asked of Lovell’s new side and for a while, the new boss will have been impressed by what he saw especially as his charges levelled within eight minutes – Fitchett rising highest above the defence to power home a header of his own.

Chances came and went at both ends – Tijan Jadawa’s drive was well beaten out by Ashford stopper Jordan Carey, whilst at the other end Lockyer poked wide after a free kick wasn’t cleared.

On twenty-six minutes, Ashford retook the lead – Lockyer and Jamie Coyle tangled on the edge of the box, and referee Dunn pointed to the spot despite loud Ramsgate protests. Lockyer picked himself up and drilled home the spot kick off the left post.

Whilst the home fans were celebrating, they were treated to a fly pass from two vintage Spitfires as they towards the Romney Marsh…

Both Lockyer and Fagg then spurned chances to increase the lead as both shot over before on the stroke of half time, Lockyer got on the end of a fantastic deep cross from Jack Steventon to power home a header beyond Russell for his seventeenth goal of the season.

The home side were well on top and within minutes of the restart, Russell pulled off a great stop to deny Lockyer’s hat-trick after Ramadan did brilliantly on the edge of the box. Sadly, for the Ramsgate keeper, when the corner wasn’t properly cleared, Diallo hammered a shot through the crowd which eluded the keeper and ended up in the bottom corner.

The full back’s goal knocked the fight out of the visitors almost completely and it was only in the final stages that Carey’s goal was really threatened – the Ashford stopper doing really well to deny Rams sub–Callum Peck. As the ninety minutes expired on the clock, Miller-Neave arrived late at the far post for a long cross and thumped a shot into the net – the muted celebrations from players and supporters alike summed up the afternoon perfectly as it was far too little far too late for the visitors.

Ashford’s charge to the Play Offs continue and just one point from their final two games will be enough effectively give them “top seed” in post season – if results go their way – promotion to the Premier Division will come through Homelands, whilst for Ramsgate, it’s almost certain now to be another season in the South East division after their sixth successive defeat.

ASHFORD UNITED – Carey, Steventon, Diallo (Trespaderne), Wisson, Friend, Kamara, Kwayie (Burdon), Fagg, Lockyer (May), Collin, Ramadan

Subs – Hull, Niemczycki

RAMSGATE – Russell, Aboagye, Ajayi, Prescott, Coyle, Olopade (Miller-Neave), Fitchett, McIntyre, Jadawa, Miller, Hoare (Peck)

Subs – Emptage, Bate, Carrington

REFEREE – Mr Dunn