A draw was probably the fair result after an evenly-contested and physical clash at Phoenix Sports.
Phoenix came close after just three minutes when debutant Alex Teniola hit a powerful left-footed shot from the ege of the area which left the keeper rooted to the spot but the visitors were saved by the frame of the goal.
From then on the first half was controlled by the visitors and after five minutes they took the lead.
From a Phoenix throw in they won the ball and hit the hosts on the break., the move resulting in a long-range effort from Thomas Chapman which Phoenix keeper Steve Philips could only parry in to the path of Harry Stannard who slotted home from close range. Midway through the first half the visitors came close again but a fiercely-driven shot from Jake McKenzie was well saved by Steve Phillips.
On two occassions late in the half Ramsgate could have doubled their lead but both times they were prevented by last ditch challenges by Jack Barry.
Phoenix started the second half well and after 55 minutes deservedly equalised.
A Conrad Lee free-kick found Jack Barry who found Teniola, who prodded home.
Phoenix were now on top and had several chances to take the lead without really troubling Luke Watkins in the Ramsgate goal.
The best being midway through the second half when a good through ball from Zak Bryon released Tarik Ibrahim who continued in to the box but his shot ended up the wrong side of the post.
The game petered out without any more clear-cut chances and neither keeper having to make a save.

Match report by Jamie Brown for the Non League Paper

- Online Match Programme -

Bostik South East Results
3rd November 2018

Ashford United 2-3 Horsham
Faversham Town 2-1 Guernsey
Greenwich Borough 0-1 Sevenoaks Town
Hastings United 2-1 Three Bridges
Haywards Heath Town 0-1 Cray Wanderers
Herne Bay 1-7 VCD Athletic
Hythe Town 3-2 Sittingbourne
Phoenix Sports 1-1 Ramsgate
Whitstable Town 0-2 Whyteleafe

Cray Wanderers remain six points clear at the top of the South East Division, and they left it late to maintain that margin yesterday, travelling to Haywards Heath Town and taking the points only in the 89th minute, Ben Mundele scoring the only goal of the game.

Hastings United are second, but were less irrepressible than usual, two goals from Youssouf Bamba giving them a 2-1 win over Three Bridges, for whom Brannon O’Neill had opened the scoring- whilst Hythe Town are third, Chris Kinnear leaving it late to beat the Brickies. It had looked easy on the half hour, after a Junior Aikhionbare double had given the Cannons the lead, but Dan Parkinson and then Tom Loynes struck back to level before the break, only for Kinnear to settle matters in favour of the home side with sixteen minutes remaining.

It was Teniola time at Phoenix Sports, Alex equalising after Harry Stannard had given Ramsgate an early lead. Sports are fourth.

The performance of the day undoubtedly came at Herne Bay, but whether that accolade goes to VCD Athletic- who scored seven goals- or to veteran striker Charlie MacDonald, who got four of them, is open to debate. MacDonald’s quartet came in the first thirty six minutes, and although Thomas Carlton got one back for the home side Alistair Gordon made it five-one at half time. There was no mercy in the second half, Ali Fuseini adding two more. VCD are fifth.

Whyteleafe are sixth, a goal in each half from Trey Williams and Bradley Wilson making the points safe at Whitstable Town, and then we come to the comeback of the day, which of course came from comeback kings Horsham. The Hornets are very, very good at grabbing something despite going behind, so Ashford United perhaps should have shut up shop at half time, after Danny Parish and Sam Corne had given them a 2-0 lead. But even without striker Rob O’Toole, who was celebrating becoming a father for the second time (congratulations on the arrival of Grace), the Hornets had enough to win, Chris Smith narrowing the gap and then Tyrell Richardson-Brown getting two, the last coming deep into stoppage time, to leave Homelands shellshocked. The Hornets are now seventh.

Sevenoaks Town also left it late, an own goal in stoppage time lifting them to tenth at the expense of Greenwich Borough, whilst, finally, Faversham Town got a late winner at home to Guernsey, Luke Harvey striking right at the end after first Harry Goodger and Thomas Dodds had cancelled each other out. Faversham are up to thirteenth.