What a game; straight from the whistle both teams made their intentions known. End to end football throughout.
First scare for Bay when Harry Stannard volleyed against the bar inside 6 minutes. Four minutes later a swift run down the right flank by Alex Mulrooney-Skinner followed with a great cross to the feet of Jake Embury who smashed the ball home.
Rams struck back almost immediately but Rory Smith’s shot struck the upright, but they were not to be denied as Tom Chapman shot across the keeper into the bottom corner to draw level.
It was pulsating football but no further goal threats, that was until the 32nd minute, Billy Munday headed a poor Bay clearance to Smith, whose first time shot caught out Jordan Beeney, giving the Rams a deserved lead.
The lead was extended when Connor Wilkins was adjudged to have fouled Smith in the area. Smith placed his spot kick low to Beeney’s right.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first and as it was in the first half, Bay who struck first when Jake scrambled the ball over the goal line from a Tom Carlton corner.
Back came Ramsgate; Chapman restored the two goal lead when he rose unchallenged to head home. Despite this setback Bay took the game to their hosts and reduced the deficit in the 64th minute when Ben Gorham volleyed a Carlton corner into the top corner.
With ten minutes play remaining Bay were level; Miles Cornwell was pushed in the back and a penalty awarded. Luke Watkins saved Jake’s initial attempt but spilled the ball and Embery put away the rebound to record his hat-trick.
It was all Bay now, as the Ramsgate players showed real signs of tiredness following their good FA Cup victory at Gosport Borough at the weekend. Embery scored his 4th and the winning goal in the 89th as Watkins again fumbled Cornwell’s shot leaving Jake to stroke the ball into the empty net to give Bay their first victory of the season with a 5-4 scoreline.
A fantastic game of football particularly for the neutral supporter, nine goals, two penalties and end to end attacking play.