After having spent the day away with Chatham Town on Saturday, for their hard earned win at Lancing, I felt duty bound to attend the big game of the day in Kent today. Ramsgate sit in second place in the Isthmian League South East Division and Chatham are now top of the table, just two points ahead, so with just three games to play the importance of this fixture couldn’t be under estimated.

The Bauvill was packed with a club record crowd of 2540 for this game, with Gillingham playing away and the bank holiday allowing for an even bigger crowd than expected.

Chatham Town came into the match on the back of four straight wins and with goals coming freely, from Jack Evans (21), Dan Bradshaw (16) and Emmanuel Oloyede (13) throughout the season.

Ramsgate have stuttered a little in the recent weeks, having drawn their previous three games. However goals haven’t been in short supply for Ramsgate either, with Ashley Miller (15), Tijan Jadama (13) and Kane Rowland (10) leading the way this season.

The first half was a cagey affair. The wet weather made passing play more difficult and both teams seemed aware of how much was at stake. Ramsgate had a couple of decent chances early on and then as Chatham Town found their passing range there were chances for Evans, Kedwell and Nzala.

As the whistle blew for half time, it felt as if the real match had yet to be unveiled. The points were most definitely up for grabs for either of the two sides.

In the first minute after the break, Ramsgate showed how dangerous they were when Carvahlo struck the post, cutting in from the right.

Ramsgate looked a real threat until Chatham Town’s manager, Kevin Hake, made an inspired changes with twenty minutes of play left, bringing on Emmanuel Oloyede. It immediately inspired a series of attacking opportunities and exposed vulnerabilities at the back for Ramsgate,

In the 72nd minute Chatham broke the deadlock, with Emmanuel Oloyede reaching a cross from the right first, to slot home the opening goal.

As Chatham seemed to relax into the game, Andy Drury then scored in the 83rd minute, to stretch Chatham’s lead to 2-0, after good work from Danny Kedwell and Jack Evans.

Ramsgate, to their credit, continued to fight until the final whistle. However as the referee blew it was the home team and fans who celebrated.