Ramsgate vs Cray Wanderers – FA Cup 2QR Replay – Wednesday 20th September, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Jonas Lustosa
This evening sees FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round replay action as Cray Wanderers head to Ramsgate following Sunday afternoon’s draw for the right to face Frome Town in the 3rd Qualifying Round. Kick off at Southwood Road is 7.45 pm. Please note the game must be played to a finish with extra-time or penalties required.
Sunday’s game was a decent cup tie which really came alive just before the hour after Yahya Bamba headed Cray in front for his third goal in two matches. Then ten minutes later, Nyren Clunis continued his rich vein of form with a classy second goal making it three in three games to make it 2-0.
Ramsgate though continued to stay in the tie and turned the game around with two goals in four minutes both scored by Joe Taylor, the first from the penalty spot in the 86th minute and then headed in an Alfie Paxman corner with the match going into its final minute.
Despite being pegged back there were positives in the Wands performance with David Ijaha outstanding and building a good combination with Frankie Raymond in midfield. Clunis and Bamba are in good goalscoring form and defensively the two full backs, Lee Lewis and Will Wood are in good form along with the centre-backs and George Porter had a good game up front.
Ramsgate though are high in confidence after a good start to the Isthmian South-East season and have a strong, experienced side so will be a good test for the Wands this evening under the lights.
This will be the first ever FA Cup tie between the sides at Ramsgate and promises to be another cracking game between teams reaching good form and proof how compelling and relevant the FA Cup still is for clubs at non-league level as they get through the qualifying rounds and the financial benefits of progressing. The FA Cup is still the greatest cup competition in the world and helps clubs below the Football League live the dream.
DIRECTIONS TO RAMSGATE FC
WWMartin Ltd Community Stadium
Southwood Stadium
Price’s Avenue
Ramsgate
KENT CT11 0AN
Admission:
Adults – £10.00
Concessions: (60+ & Students & Unemployed) – £5.00
Approach Ramsgate from the west via A299 (Canterbury/London) or A256 (Dover/Folkestone) to Lord of Manor roundabout. Follow the signpost to Ramsgate along Canterbury Road East, counting via 2nd exit of the 1st roundabout. At the 2nd roundabout, continues towards Ramsgate on London Road (2nd exit). Take the 3rd turning on the left, into St Mildred’s Avenue, then 1st left into Queen Bertha Road. After the right hand bend, take left into Southwood Road, and 1st left into Prices Ave. The stadium is at the end of Prices Avenue. There is ample free parking at the ground or on the surrounding streets.
The nearest railway station is Ramsgate, which is probably 10-15 minutes walk away. When you come out of the station turn right, and walk along Wilfred Road (past the sorting office) and straight on at the traffic lights at the junction with St Lawrence Park Road into Grange Road. Follow Grange Road until you get to shopping centre and at Zebra crossing turn right into Southwood Road. Go up Southwood road, following road round to right at the top, then turn 1st left into Prices Avenue.
For those going by train from Bromley South direct trains to Ramsgate leave at 27 or 57 minutes past the hour. The journey takes 1 hr 52 minutes. You can catch a 27 minutes past train which requires a change at Rochester. Please note the last train back to Bromley South is at 21:52 so would have to leave straight after the game. You can also travel a fast service from Startford Interntional or Ebbsfleet International and there are four trains an hour but please note the last train back from Ramsgate is 22.07 so again you may just have to watch the game doesn’t go to extra time.
You should find quite a few pubs in and around Ramsgate itself. Perhaps the nearest to the ground are the Australian Arms and the St Lawrence Tavern in the High Street. Otherwise near the seafront are the Belle Vue Tavern and the Pegwell Bay Hotel.
As a popular seaside resort you shouldn’t struggle to find a Fish and Chip Shop in Ramsgate. The most recommended is the Sunrise in Queen Street (CT11 9DR) but there is also the Best Fish Bar in the High Street.
I’m sure many of you would have been to Ramsgate at some point in time perhaps on a family holiday, on business or to catch a cross channel ferry. It lies in the East of the county and is part of the area of Thanet which includes Margate and Broadstairs. A major sea port and the home of the only Royal Harbour in the UK and had a big bearing during the Napoleonic Wars and the Dunkirk evacuation where the harbour was a starting point for the mission mainly for the small boats. There is also an airfield at Manston which was an RAF base during the First World War and is now the Kent International Airport.
It is mostly known for its seacoast and the Ramsgate Main Sands which is a major blue flag winning beach. It was also a destination for cross channel ferries to Ostende until 2013 and has a 700 berth Marina. Unless you are making a complete day off it is probably better to play there on a Saturday than midweek but still a very good away trip and there have been many good matches between the sides down at Southwood Road over the years.
