Ramsgate 3 Herne Bay 0 match report: Frontrunners do Isthmian South East double over out-of-form Bay through goals from Benedict Bioletti, Roarie Deacon and TJ Jadama; Bay keeper Harry Brooks sent off
17:10, 23 November 2024
updated: 19:50, 23 November 2024
Dominant Ramsgate maintained their unbeaten Isthmian South East record this season with a comfortable home win over Herne Bay on Saturday.
A quickfire double from Benedict Bioletti and Roarie Deacon had the home side two goals to the good inside 15 minutes.
It went from bad to worse for out-of-form Bay when goalkeeper Harry Brooks was sent off, leaving an outfield player to go in goal, and seven-goal midfielder TJ Jadama added to their tally after the restart as it ended 3-0.
The Rams completed the double for the season over Bay, having edged to a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Winch’s Field just 11 days previously.
Ben Smith’s hosts threatened first at Southwood after a good start by the away team, skipper Joe Taylor’s shot being deflected wide following good play by Jadama.
But they went ahead with 12 minutes played. Bioletti looked like he was going to be crowded out but found space for a shot on the edge of the penalty area and drilled into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season.
Two minutes later, the home team doubled their advantage as Deacon netted in the driving rain.
Again, the goal came from their right-hand side. The backline of Herne Bay - who didn’t create a single first-half chance of note - had cleared off Taylor's toes, only for Deacon to latch onto the ball in almost an identical position to Bioletti. And the 33-year-old shot past Brooks for his third goal this term.
Next to go close for the hosts was Jadama, who dragged just wide, having cut inside, on 26 minutes in front of an 818-strong crowd.
Brooks then got well in behind a long-range effort from Deacon and Joe Ellul flicked a high Lee Martin free-kick inches wide as the Rams’ dominance continued.
The only negative from an otherwise excellent first-half performance for Ramsgate was the injury Bioletti got in first-half injury time. He was caught late by away defender Jack Parter and went off to be replaced by Josh Ajayi with suspected concussion.
Herne Bay boss Steve Lovell made a double half-time substitution that saw Alfie Hill and Josh Reid replace Jack Hillier and Mo Kamara.
Those changes nearly instantly paid off, too, when home goalkeeper Tom Hadler was forced to get down low by striker Mike Salako’s cross-cum-shot.
Herne Bay again went close in the 55th minute when Hadler tipped wide after midfielder Scott Heard’s free-kick had taken a couple of deflections.
Only two minutes later, though, the away side were reduced to 10 players when referee Richard Joss adjudged Brooks to have taken out substitute Ajayi outside the penalty area, midfielder Ethan Smith taking the gloves.
Home defender Tom Clifford ventured forward to fire narrowly wide, shortly after the hour mark.
Bay refused to lie down and good work between Monty Saunders and substitute Artem Kuchkov called Hadler into action from a left-wing cross with 18 minutes to play.
But soon after, Jadama struck past Smith to make it 3-0 with his 20-yard effort before Alfie Paxman shot narrowly wide.
Makeshift keeper Smith then saved well to thwart Paxman, who was taken off for Kai Garrett, who thundered home. But the 18-year-old’s goal was ruled out for offside.
With five minutes left to play, Ajayi was the next to go close for the home team as he failed to hit the target.
But Herne Bay probably deserved a goal for their efforts on a tough day and almost got one, only for Hadler to save well from Reid.
Stoppage time saw Deacon again try his luck, blasting a free-kick just wide of the upright, but Ramsgate had done more than enough to extend their winning streak to seven matches.
The Rams had made three changes from their starting line-up which snatched a 3-2 victory at Sevenoaks last weekend.
Hadler returned in goal in place of teenage Millwall loanee Dillon Addai, who had filled in with No.2 Henry Newcombe also suspended, while player-coach Ellul and midfielder Deacon also came into the team.
For Herne Bay, Kane Rowland wasn’t involved, being replaced by fellow forward Salako, while Kane Haysman returned from injury for Ukrainian Kuchkov.
Struggling Bay, now with just one win from their last eight games, are at home to Three Bridges on Tuesday. Ramsgate are at home to Erith Town next weekend in the league.
Ramsgate: Hadler, Ellul, Leader, Clifford, Bioletti (Ajayi 45mins), Gard (Munday 70mins), Taylor, Deacon, Paxman (Garrett 81mins), Martin (Judd 79mins), Jadama. Sub not used: Barnes.
Herne Bay: Brooks, Hillier (Hill 46mins), Parter, Salmon, Friend, Kamara (Reid 46mins), Heard, Smith, Salako (Kuchkov 66mins), Haysman (Bridle 66mins), Saunders. Sub not used: Carrington.
Referee: Richard Joss.
Attendance: 818.
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