It’s a Sussex Jubilee!

Second place Ramsgate had a magnificent season with many, many highlights that will remain with their supporters for years to come- but in the end they fell short of winning the title, so needed to find a way past Chichester City for a third time this season to give themselves another shot at promotion. Their visitors had lost only once in fifteen matches- a defeat against the Rams ten days ago- and prior to that were thirteen games unbeaten, including a ten match winning streak and nine consecutive matches during which they didn’t concede a single goal- so we knew they truly deserved their play off spot, but could they finally find a way past the Rams? They’d managed only one win against these opponents in eight previous attempts.

The hosts shaded a goalless first half, and came close ten minutes into the second, a free kick from Lee Martin hitting the bar. More Rams chances saw the visiting defence called into action time and again, but the match remained goalless- until three minutes from time, when the Southwood Stadium was plunged into virtual silence as Mo Jammeh popped up to give the visitors the lead, a fine finish that deserved to win a match. The match wasn’t over, however- the referee added on eight additional minutes, could City hold out?

The Rams applied the pressure, but City kept yet another clean sheet- and this was the most important of the lot- to hold onto what they had, and to consign that past poor record against the Rams firmly to the dustbin!

Sittingbourne ended the campaign two points ahead of their opponents, Three Bridges, but the difference in form between the sides was rather stark, the Brickies- admittedly resting some key men- struggling for victories of late, whilst Bridges had won their last eight, including a three-nil win over these opponents.

It was the hosts who came closest in the early stages, a shot from Bagasan Graham hitting the inside of the post but somehow staying out, and they took the lead at the midway point of the first half, Chris Harris scoring from close range after a corner wasn’t cleared. It was a lead they held until nineteen minutes from time, when a foul on Noel Leighton gave Ibrahim Jalloh the chance to equalise from the spot- and it was a chance he took, calmness personified as he slotted home. It looked like we were heading to extra time, and then with two minutes to go Bridges took the lead, Leighton heading home after a hopeful ball over the top turned out to be a masterstroke- a killer blow so close to the end.

Added time came and went, and it was the visitors who were left to celebrate- and now they will host our all Sussex Play Off Final on Friday night!

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