Chichester Beat Ramsgate With Last Minute Winner

Photo By Neil Holmes

It was a classic British evening at Southwood Stadium, The wind was up, the rain was pouring, but everyone in the ground knew we were in for a thrilling encounter. The two sides had met just 10 days prior with Ramsgate running out 4-2 winners in that fixture, meaning there was a sense of optimism around the ground amongst the Rams Supporters. 

The first five mintues was a real game of cat and mouse between the two sides, with both teams just trying to settle down  and get to grips with the game. To the surprise of most people in the ground the first real chance of then game fell Chichesters way, Jimmy Wild Found himself free in the box after a good run from Isaac Bello on the right hand side, But the chance for a tap in was blazed up and over the bar by the Chichester Number Nine. The Chance May have been missed but it was a warning shot for Ramsgate who knew they needed to step it up to advance to the play off final. 

Moments Later Ramsgate Centre half Alex Brefo Clumsily Presented the ball at the feet Lloyd Rowlatt Who Fired an excellent effort across goal, but the Ramsgate keeper Tom Hadler was equal to it, getting across and tipping it up and over the bar for a corner.

Just Minutes Later Chichester were in again, Isaac Bello was released along the right hand side. He drove into the penalty area and looked to nestle to ball into the far post, But once again Tom Hadler was down smartly to his right hand side to make sure he kept his clean sheet intact. 

From there Ramsgate started to wake up and really get a grip of the game, moving the ball side to side waiting patiently for an opportunity to open up. 

That Opportunity didn't come until 37 minutes in when Benny Bioletti was found in some room on the right hand side, he got round his man and put a delicious ball across the face of goal but there wasn't a Ramsgate shirt anywhere near it. The ball evaded everyone went straight across the penalty area and behind.

Bioletti was really at the forefront of the game in the dying moments of the first half, and he was about to squander what would turn out to be Ramsgates biggest opening of the game! 

Kieran Magee made his only real mistake of the game and presented a clearance straight to Benny Bioletti who spotted the goalkeeper of his line, however it wasn't a good finish from the Ramsgate Wing-back and the ball went sailing over the cross bar and behind for a goal kick. 

However The Drama for the first half wasn't done there and Bioletti was in the thick of it again. He skipped round challenges in the penalty area but was  eventually brought down, and whilst Joe Taylor had the ball in the back of the net, The Referee had pointed to the spot. However it wasn't done here, the referee looked up and the linesman had his flag up making the rest of the decisions irrelevant. The home fans couldn't believe their side hadn't scored or been awarded a penalty, but the offside decision stood after some discussion between the referee and his assistant and the two teams went in level at the half time break. 

The second half was really dominated by Ramsgate and the first chance of the half was from a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area wide on the left hand side. It was a magnificent strike from the right boot of Lee Martin plenty of pace and power, but the ball cannoned of the cross bar and Chichester survived once more.

Ramsgate Created a whole host of chances in the next few moments of the half, Tijan Jadama Was getting plenty of room on the flanks, meanwhile Jordan Greens Pace was really causing some problems for Chichester City. 

However the next real Ramsgate chance came from Lee Martins Corner, Joe Turner got up highest and headed it towards goal but it was cleared of the line by Chichester and they were still well in the game. 

In the next ten minutes Ramsgate really started turning the screw, Jordan Green was slipped into the penalty area to go one on one with the Goalkeeper, but the outstretched boot of Magee managed to keep it out of the net, Alfie Paxman then had a couple of swings at it but Chichester were throwing bodies on the line once more to make sure they kept the ball out the back of the net. 

Chichester seemed like they were on the ropes, but they were about the administer a knock out blow to finish the match. 

The ball was pulled back to the substitute Mo Jammeh who was his first time shot blocked, but the ball fell back to him kindly and he made no mistake second time of asking. He rolled the ball calmly into the bottom left corner, past Tom Hadler, and to the bemusement of the  home crowd 5th placed Chichester had the lead in the play off semi final. 

A roar went round the ground when eight additional minutes was put up at the end of the half, but it was Chichester that nearly scored again. The Ball fell for substitute Ethan Prichard, who saw Hadler of is line, and looked to delicately chip the ball over the goalkeepers head but his effort came back of the post and Ramsgate still had some hope. 

Tom Hadler was waved forward for a flurry of corners deep in to stoppage time but Chichester defended them well, and were incredibly grateful for the referees whistle to go sealing their place in the Play Off Finals. 

1,462 came out to watch the game, and many would have been disappointed to Ramsgate knocked out in the play of Semi Finals for the second year running. 

Overall a great game of football and a terrific advert for non league, congratulations to Chichester and we'll be keeping an eye on the result in the final.