Stones Match Reports Page

Maidstone Utd 1

FOLEY 77

Ramsgate 0

FA Cup
27th August 2002

It was certainly not a classic cup encounter at Central Park on this blustery Tuesday evening but the final result certainly justified the means for a below par Maidstone United. Visitors Ramsgate had shown in the first meeting between these two Go Travel Kent League sides, that they have the makings of a young side that will secure plenty of good victories this season.

With home advantage and the backing of a record home crowd of 432, The Stones approached the game in confident mood. However, stalwart midfielder Steve Butler was ruled out due to a hamstring injury and the home side struggled to overcome his absence for long periods of the game. The closeness of the match was in no way due totally to any perceived Maidstone deficiencies. It was a testament to the tenacity of manager Peter Hook's Ramsgate side. Centre back Dean Yorath marshalled the Rams defence superbly for the second game in a row and was ably assisted by Ed Vahid, who made a more assured performance than on Saturday.

Maidstone's success this time around centred on their ability to quell the threat posed by Mo Takalogabashi. A change in line up forced by Butler's injury, allowed Neil Davey, who was only playing with his knee injury frozen, to perform in midfield where Stones had lacked bite on Saturday. It also allowed for the recall of the vastly under rated centre back Steve Coatham. He was tasked with marking the Rams' danger man and performed admirably, restricting him to barely a sniff at goal throughout the whole match.

The wind and a hard playing surface negated the prospect of any pleasing to the eye football during the opening exchanges, as the players struggled to control the ball on countless occasions. Stones were restricted to a couple of long range efforts, the most notable being Davey's 25 yard drive that just cleared the bar in the 21st minute.

Just prior to half time, the best chance of the half was created by the visitors. The influential Jason Moore floated a free kick into the penalty area and the ball was met powerfully by Yorath who saw his header well saved by Kevin Hudson. The highlights reel for the BBC and Sky Sports News cameras was in danger of being incredibly short at this time. The second half in truth had little more in the way of action, but nonetheless, this cup tie was totally absorbing.

In the 65th minute, skipper Paul Foley had the ball in the Rams' net, only to see the effort chalked off for handball in the scramble following Ryan Hackett's free kick. The former Ram however, did not have long to ponder this disappointment as he was the man who was finally to break the deadlock just 12 minutes later. Barry Jeffreys, who had replaced Paul Ribbens at half time, floated a corner to the near post which the powerful Davey flicked on. Ross Edwards at the far post headed back across goal and as the ball bounced in the six yard box, Foley prodded home for the decisive strike.

Unsurprisingly, Ramsgate piled on the pressure in their effort to stay in the FA Cup and the TV limelight. In stoppage time, substitute Aaron Robinson blazed over from 8 yards out after Hudson and Pedro Knight both hesitated. The last attack of the game for the visitors saw goalkeeper Danny Twyman causing panic in the home teams' penalty area at a corner kick. Fortunately for Stones, this foray amounted to nought, as very soon after, referee Colin Plummer blew the final whistle to award Stones the Ł500 winners' cheque, a trip to Tonbridge Angels in the next round and continued national TV coverage courtesy of BBC and Sky.

Maidstone: Hudson (7), Kempster (6), Ribbens (6) (Jeffreys - 45 (7)), Foley (7), Coatham (8), Edwards (7), Knight (6), Marshall (6), Sinden (6), Davey (7) (Pettit 80), Hackett (6) Subs not used: Scott, Chainey, Reynolds.

Ramsgate: Twyman, Cook (Winch 83), McCabe (Holmes 65), Yorath, O. Schulz, Vahid, Moore, Wilson, Takalogabashi, G. Schulz (Robinson 67), Pointer Subs not used: Weatherly, Morris