Staines Town 3 Ramsgate 1

by Steve ParsonsIf it had looked as though Staines' season was fizzling out, Steve Cordery's men produced one last hurrah for the crowd who turned up at sunny Wheatsheaf Lane for this final home game.

The manager made two changes from the midweek draw at Hendon, reintroducing Gareth Risbridger after a hamstring problem and James Younghusband, back from a trip to the Phillipines.

There was a first call on the bench for Gianluca Palladino, the young Barnet player, but he was unused.

The weather was warm and bright, and the pump had been repaired that morning, helping the pitch to be a little more moist.

These two clubs had met only once before - a defeat in Kent just before Christmas.

The visitors started quite brightly, but Staines soon found their feet, with Adam Thomspon seeing a pile-driver pushed for a corner.

From that, Dave Sargent picked out Matt Flitter, whose shot was blocked by a defender amid appeals for a penalty for hands.

However, Staines did not have to wait long for their opener.

When Mark Nwokeji took on the visiting defender and then laid the ball off for young Younghusband to crisply drive a low shot beyond the diving Paul Wilkerson, to celebrate his first goal for the club.

A good cross by Shaun Welford presented Warren Schulz with a good chance to volley his side level, but he could only manage an airshot.

His brother, Ollie Schulz, had a better attempt but his powerful shot flew just wide, and then Staines had Adam Thompson cautioned for dissent.

However, Staines came safely through the wobble, and André Scarlett was unlucky with an angled shot across goal, before they scored their second three minutes before the interval.

The visitors had a free kick just inside their own half, which keeper Wilkerson punted forward, only for the Staines defence to clear.

Liam Morris should have been able to send the ball back into the danger area, but he was not alert to the lightning pace of Mark Nwokeji, who stole the ball from him, advanced 30 yards, and then stroked it firmly beyond the keeper.

The visitors made two changes at half time, while Staines brought on Dean Thomas (his foot injury now healed) for scorer Younghusband.

Another Rams defensive error let Nwokeji in again within five minutes of the restart, but this time Wilkerson came to the rescue by turning his effort for a corner, which in turn led to Scarlett hitting the side netting.

A studs-up foul on Howard Newton saw Ashley Burton cautioned, and he was immediately substituted.

James Courtnage was called upon to save Michael Yianni's wickedly deflected shot on 72 minutes, but he had no chance when the Ramsgate front man hit s superb shot just three minutes later, having beaten one defender, he picked his spot just inside the near post.

The game then really opened out, with Nwokeji and Newton shooting wide from good positions, and good work by Sargent, Warner and Nwokeji leading to Scarlett forcing a fine save.

Ramsgate, too, sensed a chance to draw level, and pressed forward through Shaun Welford and Mark Munday.

Nwokeji again drew a good save from Wilkerson after a great diagonal pass from Risbridger.

Staines made sure of the points when they added their third goal after 84 minutes, Thomas winning a corner which Sargent whipped in, and Swans skipper Matt Flitter slammed in his first goal of the season.

There were two further cautions - Ramsgate's Yianni for a rash tackle, although the referee's whistle unfortunately halted a promising break by Nwokeji, and Staines' Thomas for delaying a free kick.

Staines: Courtnage; Risbridger, Sargent, Thompson, Flitter (captain), Robinson, K Warner, Scarlett, H Newton (McGlashan 88), Nwokeji, Younghusband (Thomas HT); unused subs Pitt, Campbell, Tallentire.

Ramsgate: Wilkerson, Burton (Treadwell 61), Hill (Edusei HT), Morris, O Schulz, Tanner, Yianni, W Schulz (S Vahid HT), Welford, Munday (captain), Hadden; unused Pettit, E Vahid.

Attendance: 253.