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11th August 2006 By JAMES BROWN and PAUL COPLEY Ramsgate 1 Faversham Town 1 TERRY CORDICE took a gamble on Richard Gamble and hit the jackpot at Ryman League Premier Division Ramsgate on Tuesday night. Faversham Town boss Cordice gave defender Gamble a second-half run- out as a striker at Southwood with the Lilywhites trailing 1-0 to Shaun Welford's 26th-minute opener. And he was rewarded when the summer signing fired a well-deserved leveller following a great run from fellow new boy Dane Luchford with 15 minutes to go. Town have not exactly set the world alight this summer with defeats to Cray Wanderers, Cork City, Folkestone Invicta, Sittingbourne and Lewisham Borough leaving fans fearing the worst ahead of the re-born club's debut campaign in the Kent League. But now Cordice heads into Saturday's first game of the season against VCD Athletic at Salters Lane (kick-off 3pm) with confidence sky high after giving Jimmy Ward's highly-rated Rams a real run for their money. He said: "This whole pre-season campaign has been geared towards VCD on Saturday and I hope after this result that people can see that there is method to our madness. "We've had some tough, tough opponents this summer and been well beaten but it's all coming together now just like we knew it would. "This is a policy I have adopted for three or four seasons now and it has always worked. This time we have taken on a very good side from the Ryman Premier League and we should have won. Simple as that. "We used our squad well and definitely finished the stronger. I am buzzing, the lads are buzzing and we cannot wait to take on VCD." Southwood supremo Ward watched Town lose 4-0 to Folkestone last month but was delighted to see Cordice's team turn in a much-improved performance against his highly-rated outfit. He said: "It's the second time I've seen Faversham this summer. I saw them against Folkestone and I have to say they were a very poor side that day. They just didn't look like a football team. "But I was very impressed with their performance against us. They now have better players and are better organised. "TC obviously has them going in the right direction and I'm really pleased for him because he is a top man." Ward knows good players when he sees them and there is no doubt that Town's dealings in the transfer market over the last fortnight have given the club a real cutting edge. Pacy youngster Wayne "Junior" Farrell, 18, looks almost certain to be employed as a wing back this season and he was a real threat. Fellow new boys Steve Aslett, Wes Hammond and Luchford also did well on a night when Ramsgate started with five first team players. The Rams kept possession for long periods of the first half and went ahead when the unfortunate Tim Holmes saw his excellent reaction save fall straight to Welford after some indecisive defending. Town battled on with the unselfish Mark Smith producing a much improved display in the heart of midfield. Sadly, there were negatives in the middle of the park too, with out- of-sorts skipper Julian Beal picking up a needless yellow card which led to him being replaced. The Lilywhites stuck to their task, however, and gradually improved, producing a pattern of play well suited to the 3-5-2 formation that manager Cordice favours. The second half brought a number of changes and an upturn in fortunes for Town who defended higher up the pitch, marshalled well by Gary Stock at sweeper. It enabled the midfield five to enjoy the quality of ball they have craved for most of pre-season and the introduction of Luchford, combined with the marauding runs of Farrell, gave the team genuine menace. The Rams were pinned back and a dazzling run by Luchford alllowed him space in the box to find supersub Gamble who levelled the contest with his first goal for Town. Cordice's side were full of confidence as the game drew to a close and Luchford was unlucky to see his drive blaze over the bar after another powerful run. Town's Top Man: Mark Smith - Industrious and unselfish in midfield. Tim Homes 6, Wayne Farrell 6, Jason Mills 6, Wes Hammond 7, James Holder 7, Jim Crosswell 6, Mark Smith 8, Julian Beal 5, John Goodwin 6, Andy Martin 7, Steve Aslett 7. Substitutes: Stuart Smith (for M Smith) 7, Richard Gamble (for Martin) 6, Bradley Maguire (for Mills) 7, Gary Stock (for Crosswell) 7.
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