Ramsgate 1-0 Broadbridge Heath

Our longest ever trip for any competitive match saw the Bears travel as far east as they could without getting wet, to the seaside town of Ramsgate for an Isthmian League South-East division match against the division leaders and pre-season favourites for promotion Ramsgate FC.

This was a real challenge for Heath Manager Chris Simmons side, played in front of a crowd of 1,377 spectators his players handled the pressure extremely well and forced the home goal-keeper Tom Hadler into the first save of the match inside the opening minute when Mason Doughty won the ball off a defender, strode into the penalty area and hit a left foot shot across the goal that the keeper saved well low to his left.

The hosts first real attempt at goal came on 13 minutes when a scramble in the goalmouth ended with Joe Turner turning on a sixpence before striking a right foot shot that was cleared away by defender Kyle Sim.

Heath continued to create the better openings with Sam Lemon winning a tussle with the right fullback, playing the ball back into the path of Doughty whose right foot shot from the edge of the box was blocked by a defender and Ashley Mutongerwa shot wide of target from the follow up.

Just before the break some fancy footwork from the Rams Alex Brefo setup Medy Elito with a half chance but he struck his left foot shot straight into the arms of Heath stopper Alfie Hadfield and it remained all square at nil, nil at the break.

Into the second half and the first goal attempt was made by the Rams Deshane Dalling but his left foot effort from distance lacked any power and Hadfield gathered comfortably.

On 56 minutes Matt Penfold won the ball in the centre of midfield, played it forward to Mutongerwa who struck a left foot shot from 23 yards just wide of target.

With 79 minutes showing on the clock Penfold again won the ball in midfield, interchanged passes with Jamie Buchanan before playing a defence splitting pass to allow Mutongerwa to run through on goal, Hadler came sprinting off his line to narrow the angle as the Heath striker tried to take the ball around the keeper only to be denied by an outstretched leg to get a toe to the ball, just enough to deny the Heath striker giving his side the lead.

Four minutes later and the division leaders took the lead when a move down the right flank ended with a low cross into the penalty area to Alfie Paxman at the near post who bundled the ball off the post into the goal, the ball did ricochet around the Heath penalty area hitting the bar, the post and several players before finally being cleared but the Assistant had already retreated upfield claiming the ball had crossed the line from the first move and that was the difference between the two sides.

A really good team performance from Simmons team who despite having only been promoted at the end of last season to this level of football for the first time ever, have consistently shown that they can compete against any side in the division.

Next up for the Bears is a home fixture against Littlehampton Town on Saturday 24th February, Kick Off at 3.00

Team: Hadfield, Sim, Chesworth, Brackpool, Bromage, Penfold, Mutongerwa, Buchanan, Doughty (Hay 67), Lemon (Kowalczyk 70), Lindsey.