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Ramsgate will be glad to see the back of Lloyd Blackman this season after he once again got the winner against The Rams after Maidstone came from two goals down to register their first Ryman Premier League double of the season.
After many seasons of disappointment against the team from the red half of Thanet, this was a very satisfying afternoon for The Stones and one which left Alan Walker feeling pleased with his side. “We are absolutely delighted with the result,” he said afterwards. “In the second half we were totally dominant and we got our just rewards in the end.”
On 11 minutes, former Maidstone player Ryan Royston’s half volley grazed the right hand post but Royston was to have more luck four minutes later when he put the visitors in front. Simon Pettit’s long throw into the box was only cleared as far as Ben Brown who steered his shot through a crowd of players. Andy Walker got down well to make the save but he spilled the ball and Royston bundled in the opener from close range.
Four minutes later, Royston was very fortunate not to concede a penalty when the ball appeared to strike his arm but the referee waved away the appeals by indicating that the ball had hit Royston’s chest.
Then six minutes before the break, Ramsgate once again rode their luck when Ben Brown, who looked to be in an offside position, got in behind Ashley Ulph before dispatching the ball past Walker.
However, just sixty seconds later, Maidstone hauled themselves back into the game when Roland Edge won the ball in a crowded midfield and picked out Lloyd Blackman with a delightful pass. Despite attention from the Ramsgate defence, Blackman stayed on his feet and coolly sent the ball past Jack Delo in The Rams goal.
After the break, The Stones looked much the stronger of the two sides and on 55 minutes, they should have pulled level when Elliot Bradbrook delivered a dangerous corner only for James Peacock to head wide when he was just two yards from goal.
But Maidstone’s pressure finally paid dividends when James Pinnock, who may have been offside, raced down the right and drilled the ball into the box and Bradbrook got the vital touch to divert the ball into the net.
The Stones continued to press forwards in search of a winner which duly arrived five minutes from time when Ashley Ulph sent a straight free-kick into the box and with the Ramsgate defence sleeping, Blackman saw his header drift into the net.
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