MATCH REPORT: RAMSGATE 4-1 PHOENIX

Phoenix take the lead but fall to defeat in Ramsgate

ATP Photography

Despite a spirited first-half performance, Phoenix suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat on the road against league leaders Ramsgate on Saturday.

Phoenix manager Darren Anslow made two changes to the side that beat Deal Town a week earlier, with new signings Jake Goodman and Jamarie Brissett both thrown straight in to make their debuts.

The game started at a fast pace, with an early scare for Phoenix in the seventh minute. Rams midfielder Billy Munday broke through the middle and found Benny Bioletti out wide. Bioletti managed to get past Sam Freeman in the Phoenix goal, but a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Goodman prevented an early Ramsgate goal.

The game took a dramatic turn in the 21st minute when both Phoenix’s Isaac Thompson and Ramsgate’s Lee Martin were shown red cards following a confrontation. The decision left most of the 1,000 fans in attendance at the WMM Martin Stadium frustrated, with both sides arguing that a yellow card each would have sufficed.

Phoenix responded better and looked dangerous going forward. In the 31st minute, Tyler Anderson had a chance to put them ahead but saw his shot blocked by the onrushing goalkeeper, Tom Hadler. Just a minute later, Anderson came close again, curling an effort just over the bar as Hadler clawed at thin air.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 36th minute when Brissett clipped the ball over an opposition player’s head and played a brilliant one-two with Perri Iandolo. Brissett controlled well before placing a precise shot into the corner to give Phoenix the lead on his debut and silence the home crowd.

They weren’t quiet for long, however, and Phoenix’s advantage was short-lived. In the 39th minute, Ramsgate equalised after being awarded a controversial corner. Ahkeem Belford seemingly played the ball off Alfie Paxman, only for the assistant referee to award Ramsgate the corner. Phoenix didn’t defend it well enough, and Roarie Deacon delivered the ball into the box, where Aaron Barnes rose highest to head home at the near post.

Ramsgate rallied and forced Freeman into a good save just before half-time, but Phoenix deservedly went into the break with the league leaders level.

The Rams started the second-half as they ended the first and took full control of the game. In the 51st minute, the Rams took the lead when Alfie Paxman fired home from close range after Phoenix goalkeeper Sam Freeman parried an initial shot.

Freeman did well to keep Phoenix in the game in the 55th minute, making a fine save to deny Joe Taylor’s long-range effort.

However, the pressure kept mounting, and in the 65th minute, Ramsgate were awarded a penalty after Jack Turner was judged to have pulled back Taylor in the box. Taylor stepped up and confidently converted, scoring his 40th goal of an incredible personal season to make it 3-1.

Ramsgate sealed their victory in the 76th minute with a well-worked goal. Barnes played the ball forward to Taylor, who flicked it wide to Bioletti. His cross into the box found Paxman, who tapped home his second goal of the game to make it 4-1.

Phoenix will now look to regroup and bounce back as they prepare for a crucial home match against fellow strugglers Littlehampton Town on Saturday.