Reserves 2 Ramsgate Reserves 3, Floodlight Trophy

[BlueGate Alan]

In a game of two halves, a Ramsgate side boasting 8/9 first team squad members and trialists just got the better of a Margate side which included 5 first team squad players.

 

In the 7th minute, Aaron Firth broke free into the area and as he was about to shoot, Luke Wheatley came across and put in a great block which left Aaron on the ground after he kicked Luke accidentally, and had to be strechered off. Dane Sutton then had a shot in the 17th minute which Mark Beresford dealt with comfortably. Aaron Quain then went on a mazy run in the 22nd minute, leaving trialist Danny Walder captured from Gillingham in his wake. He threaded a ball through to Johnny Greaves who hit a shot that Shaun Alliston could only stop with an outstreched leg and Luke Coleman pounced on the rebound and hit it into the net.

 

Seven minutes later Quain took a free kick which was cleared but fell to Paul Axon who hit a terrific shot from 30 yards which fizzed just wide of the left post. Warren Schulz then had an opportunity to equalise but when it looked easier to score he hit his shot way over the bar. Quain then showed a delightful bit of skill when close to the touchline he flicked the ball over Walder and hit a half volley which went past the right post. Then a minute before halftime a through ball to Axon saw Alliston come running out to intercept but the ball rebounded off him to a grateful Tom Hickman who fired it into the empty net. Alliston appeared to injure himself in the process but after treatment was fine.

 

Ramsgate to their due came out all guns blazing in second half and it was no surprise when the quick, lively Byron Walker latched onto a corner from Sutton in the 50th ninute and fired a terrific shot high into the top of the net. Margate nearly hit back immediately when a corner by Quain was met by Greaves running in but his header went just over the bar. From another corner from Sutton which was met by a Ben Brown shot, Beresford saved and Jimmy Booth came in for the rebound which Beresford saved again. Margate then made a substitution in the 60th minute replacing Axon with the quick, skilful Masdade Ebeneezor who quickly went on a run leaving the experienced Duff for dead, pushed the ball to Nick Argyrides who put in a lovely cross which found Quain running in who fired into the net. However his delight was cut short when he was ruled offside.

 

In the 68th minute Byron Walker went on a run into the area and his trickery got him a well deserved equaliser when he pushed the ball in after rounding a defender and the goalie. Seven minutes later Margate nearly regained the lead when a ball was threaded through by Ebeneezor to Greaves whose cross found Coleman but his shot was just clawed away by Alliston.

 

Then in the 81st minute Walker had a glorious chance to get his hat-trick when Schulz crossed a ball over to him but his shot went wide of the left post. Quain then had an even better chance two minutes later when he broke free, rounded Alliston but with an empty net at his mercy somehow managed to just miss it and hit side netting. This was to prove a costly error as from yet another corner in the 85th minute Sutton found Ben Brown in the area who volleyed in to put his side into the lead which they held onto until end of the game.

 

Margate: Bereseford, Argyrides, Vanhinsberg, Wheatley, Treadwell, Hickman, Axon (Ebeneezor 60th min), Morris, Greaves, Coleman, Quain. Subs not used: Lewis, Taylor, Payne, Brown.

 

Ramsgate: Alliston, Walder, Duff, Kinch, Evans, Baker, Brown, Schulz, Firth, Sutton, Walker. Subs: Booth, Jones, Powell, Smith, Riordan.

 

Att 78 (plus others from meeting of Margate youth coaches)

[CT9]

Last season I was treated to great attacking football (in these midweek trophy games), by a super crop of young lads. You could tell they just loved to play football, for the love of the game. Yet so far this season I have been subjected to having to watch supposed first teamers hacking at the opposition, and mainly hoofing the ball into touch. Giving away lots of free kicks and throw-ins. In doing so just giving the ball back to the opposition.

Last year the young lads tried to keep ball and rarely committed a foul. In fact they used to win nearly all the fouls and so kept hold of the ball and could then delight us with their interplay and skill. Please bring these young lads back in these mid-week games so I can enjoy watching them play. I have to suffer the other tactics enough when I'm watching the 1st team play this season.

Saying that though I was very impressed with Quain and Vanhinsburg. They wanted to play football the way I want to watch it. Attacking and interchanging their positions, great ability both on and off the ball normally resulting in a good cross into the danger area. Treadwell and Wheatley looked very good at the back, during the 1st half, for two so young in age.

[differentgame]

I have an interest in your post hippy and can shed some light on last seasons "promising young players". The plus is that they are still arround and live in hope but needs must and the reserve set-up has and is used to look at new players or give first team players a game and, at the moment at least, is not a regular side. It does seem that Margate is blessed with a large group of fringe first team and hopeful reserve players. However, it would be nice to see them fully fit and on fire again.

[michael]

To be fair, i think the aim of the reserve team was to do exactly that-trialists, give fringe players a game-and as importantly introduce the younger players (U18's ) to more competitive football via the reserves.

 

seems to be worjking-and as you imply DG-i'm sure Hippy only just needs to be a bit more patient and once things settle-maybe by christmas,the reserve set up will mainly be full of the younger players and 'flowing football' again.

 

To a lesser extent-was'nt that also the case last season, when it took 2/3 months for the reserve side to settle and develop,and post Christmas -'took the world' by storm