Whitstable began the New Year on a high after beating local rivals Ramsgate 3-1 at Southwood Stadium.
Recent form favoured the travelling Oystermen as they prepared for their trip down the Thanet Way, Ramsgate hadn’t won at home since late October and only had one point in the league in two months having begun the New Year in 21st position in the Ryman South.
In comparison Whitstable were coming into the game off a 4-1 win at rivals Herne Bay but they played one more game than their Thanet opponents after some Rams players were involved in a car accident on their way to Hastings on Boxing Day, forcing their game to be postponed. All three of the named players involved in the incident started for the hosts.
Within the opening minutes it was clear what the fixture meant to both sides, nobody was being given any space on the ball and within the first two minutes a number of fouls from both teams occurred, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
With twelve minutes gone in the game some bad Rams defending allowed Hastings to score on their first good attack, Peter Wedgeworth’s long ball into the path of Scott Heard split the Ramsgate defence apart; Heard was then able to get the ball around Nick Shaw before holding up play from a tight angle and giving the ball to Kane Rowland who confidently stroked his shot home to give his side an early lead.
Ramsgate used this goal as a way to work their way back into the game, straight from the resulting kick off Ricky Gundry hit a left footed shot across goal which was brilliantly tipped wide by Luke Watkins. Soon after a corner from the right floated over Watkins leaving an open goal for Gundry’s diving header at the far post but the attacker nodded his effort wide.
From another Ramsgate corner their opponents were able to counter from another corner, the Oystermen looked to push forward against the two remaining Ramsgate defenders; Tom Loynes took the ball from within his own half and when he finally reached Nick Shaw he hit a shot straight at the goalkeeper, Heard received the rebound and attempted an effort into the top corner which Shaw was acrobatically able to keep out meaning his side still trailed by one goal as half time approached.
Whitstable began the second half as they began the first, not allowing the hosts any time or space and winning possession well in midfield, within the opening minutes of the half they were nearly able to double their lead but, after Jake Makenzie took the ball in Ramsgate’s half towards goal and played a pass across the face of goal to Ian Pulman, Luke Wheatley was able to recover to clear the pass away.
It didn’t take long for Whitstable to increase their lead, however; after yet again taking back possession on midfield they pushed forward quickly ending with Ian Pulman hitting a left footed shot across the goal to score against his old side.
In a similar way to the first goal, Ramsgate came straight back and had a chance for themselves soon after the goal. After taking the ball on the left wing Aaron Quain skilfully cut inside but his shot from his weaker right foot glided into the hands of Luke Watkins.
Ramsgate’s pressure continued and they soon had another opportunity; this time, after Scott Punton’s shot from a clearance was deflected it fell into the path of Gundry but Watkins bravely gathered the ball at the attacker’s feet.
This momentum from Ramsgate finally culminated in a goal for the hosts when, after 83 minutes Josh Sherman steered his glancing header from Josh Woolley’s cross past Luke Watkins to narrow the lead to one goal.
The hosts continued to push forward to look for an equaliser but, with time running out, Whitstable were happy to sit back and watch time run out for their opponents.
The Oystermen were able to extend their lead late in the game to confirm the three points when Nick Shaw in the Ramsgate goal’s clearance was deflected into the feet of Tom Loynes who, under minimal pressure, simply lofted the ball over Shaw to replenish the two goal lead before full time.
Yet another defeat for Ramsgate keeps them two points above the relegation zone in thhe Ryman South. Their task is made even more difficult as they will now travel to 4th placed Folkestone Invicta on Saturday before fellow strugglers Hythe go to Southwood Stadium.
With those three points Whitstable have risen to eighth position, seven points outside the playoffs. They will now prepare for the visit of 22nd placed Redhill on Saturday to end their busy Christmas Schedule.
Ramsgate: Shaw, Harrington, Skinner (Woolley), Hickman (Schulz), Punton (Hill), Wheatley, T Chapman, Murray, Sherman, Quain, Gundry
Subs not used: R Chapman, Hagan
Booked: Hickman, Punton, Wheatley, Woolley
Whitstable Town: Watkins, Mackenzie, Wedgeworth, James, Doherty, Treadwell, Heard, Girt, Pulman (Coyne), Rowland (Gray), Loynes (Donnelly)
Subs not used: Crimmen, Lee
Booked: Treadwell