Chatham Town 4 Ramsgate 1

Match 30/13/1057 - Tuesday, 8th October 2013 - Ryman League Cup

Chatham Town (0) 4 May 71, 74, 81 Alderman 90
Ramsgate (1) 1 Millbank 42
Att. 108

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £1.00
Mileage: 32/2,247

This was a match to occupy a Tuesday night, a bit of a blog-hop as I haven't been to Chatham Town for quite literally donkey's years. In fact, so long that I was convinced I knew exactly where the ground was but ended up asking for directions. As it turned out, a pleasantly warm evening was spent talking football with a fellow Gillingham and England supporter whilst watching a decent match.

One has to have a great deal of sympathy with Chatham Town, they could almost be labelled Kent's forgotten club. They have been marooned in Ryman League North for some years and miss out on both the revenue and the attention that the numerous Kent derbies would bring. So the visit of a fellow Kent side for this League Cup tie was welcome.

As the match unfolded, with Ramsgate taking the lead after the home side had had two first half goals disallowed, the game became the Alfie May show. A nippy, little winger was shown the yellow card for petulence, but then took his attitude in the right direction with a match winning hat-trick, the third of which was a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box that warranted a bigger stage and a larger audience.

Since my last visit, goodness knows when, the structure behind the goal that houses the changing rooms, tea bars has been built and adds to the tidy ground. The wooden stand with its bench seats are a lovely throw-back to the good old days.

I enjoyed my visit and I'm guessing it will not be so long before I return.