A good team display filled with energy, drive and determination saw Lordswood ease to a 4-0 victory against Ramsgate.

Lordswood started like a house on fire and made it 1-0 within 30 seconds of kick off and without a Ramsgate player touching the ball. Good passing and quick movement saw a great through ball played into space behind the Ramsgate defence, Lordswood’s striker pounced on the ball and lobbed the advancing keeper for a fine finish.

Lordswood were positively chomping at the bit and were in a similar situation just a minute later, hounding Ramsgate from their own kick off saw the ball end up at Lordswood’s feet just 8 yards from the goal, but unfortunately the shot went just past the post.

Lordswood kept looking to get forward at every opportunity and were causing Ramsgate all sorts of problems, with 5 minutes gone Lordswood spurned another chance, blazing over from right in front of goal.

Lords manager Andy Slade said: “We had already showed our cutting edge and desire, and our midfield had a good strong foothold in the game, whilst our strikers were linking up well and were in the mood. We did rush a little at times, some of our players were playing at such a quick tempo that they were not relaxing enough, but as the game progressed we settled and improved on that front.”

Ramsgate were clinging on to the game after such an early blow, but were already looking overworked, but in fairness to them, once they did get the ball they did try to play their part in making a game of it. Their tactics looked like including a long ball over the top to their strikers who looked pacy, but Lordswood’s central defenders were equal to them and were able to shut them out whenever they did threaten.

With 20 minutes gone, Lordswood made it 2-0. The same player scoring again with a low shot into the corner after a good run from out wide. Just two minutes later and it was 3-0, good work out on the wing resulted in a simple tap in from a resulting cross, this time by the other Lordswood striker.

Halftime 3-0.

“I told the players to keep playing as we were,” said Slade. “Relax more and keep the ball more, I wanted them to conserve energy and keep good options and movement. I warned the back four to keep their concentration and snuff out Ramsgate’s predictable long ball threat.”

The 2nd half was a pretty similar story to the first with Lordswood once again dominating. Many raids were made on the Ramsgate goal and Lordswood showed no signs of tiring. With 65 minutes gone Lordswood made it 4-0, another good move saw the winger teasing Ramsgate’s full back before picking out the Lords striker with a nice pass. The striker scored with a clever finish into the corner from 18 yards for his 2nd goal of the game. There were a few more efforts as a lovely chipped cross was met powerfully with a header but Ramsgate’s keeper reacted well and pushed the ball over the bar.

Slade summed up: “We played like and looked like a real team which was pleasing as this is what it is all about for us. We had good balance throughout the side and we had work rate, quality, team play and most of all we wanted it. We had players improving their own all round contribution for much more of the game, something I have been demanding and that was also pleasing. No-one could be faulted tonight.”