A last minute Ian Pulman goal was enough to ensure that Ramsgate’s slim playoff hopes gathered pace after a win over tenth placed Tooting And Mitcham at Southwood Stadium.

After most headlines concerning the Rams was due to their desperate financial situation it was good for the club to be able to show what they are able to do on the pitch and beating a team just four points beneath them would have shown that they have what it takes to push for promotion; but after recent losses against strong Faversham and Corinthian sides the odds are against Ramsgate to go up.

After an uneventful, if aggressive, opening to the game it was the visitors who got the first early chance to take the lead, after Blanchard Bikuilan was able to get a long ball towards Tooting’s two strikers it fell to Craig Watkins who was able to hold off hi marker, only for his looping shot to go wide of Nick Shaw’s left post.

Tooting continued to put their opponents under pressure and, after Shaw’s clearance landed at the feet of Watkins, he threaded a pass over the Ramsgate defence into the path of his strike partner Sol Pinnock, but the ex-Dulwich and Croydon Athletic striker slipped as he went to shoot, leaving the Rams defence to easily play the ball away from danger.

It took 30 minutes before the hosts had their first opportunity to score. After a foul on the left wing, Macaulay Murray put a perfect cross towards the far post before it was headed back across the goalmouth for Ian Pulman to slide his shot into the near post to give his team the lead at half time.

Early in the second half Tooting had a chance to level the game, but after a good run down the right wing from Fabian Secon- Smith he fell to the ground under pressure from Curtis Robertson, but his desperate calls for a penalty were waved away.

Despite their disappointment, it wasn’t long before the visitors were able to equalise, Secon- Smith placed a free kick towards the six yard box, only to see Nick Shaw punch the ball towards the chest of Sol Pinnock, the striker was then able to control the ball before putting it into the empty net.

It took until the final minute before Ramsgate had their next chance to score, After Substitute Kane Rowland’s long ball over the defence fell to Ian Pulman, The Ram’s top scorer this season went down after being tripped by Nathan Gordon, who was out of position after starting at left back instead of his preferable place on the left wing. After the referee pointed to the spot James Everitt stepped up and converted the kick himself to give his team the three points.

Nathan Gordon, still furious with the penalty decision against him took his anger out on the Ramsgate midfield, giving him a second yellow card, meaning that Tooting were forced to finish the game with ten men.

Following the game, it became clear that both Tim Dixon and Darren Beale were to leave the club with Jim Ward set to be installed as the new Ramsgate manager once again.

Ramsgate: Shaw, Sherman, Robinson, Murray, Schulz, Laslett, Chapman (Rigden), Treadwell, Pulman (Rowland), Pilcher, Everitt

Subs not used: Smith, Barrett, Hawkes

Booked: Everitt, Sherman

Tooting And Mitcham: Smith, Bikuilan, Alimi, Knock, Hartburn, Secon- Smith (Nkoma), Quarm, Pinnock (Simpson), Watkins, Noble

Subs not used: Cheadle

Booked: Bikuilan, Noble

Sent off: Gordon

Attendance: 161