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Whitstable Town joint-boss Danny Ward reflects on success at Ramsgate ahead of Ryman League Division 1 South trip to Southwood

Danny Ward says he and brother Jim don’t get the credit they deserve for their historic exploits at Ramsgate where they return with Whitstable on Thursday to try and kick-start Town’s play-off push.

The Ward brothers were at the Southwood helm during the club’s heydays in the 2000s when they oversaw back-to-back titles in the Kent League and Ryman League, Division 1 South, plus an FA Cup first round appearance, a Ryman League Cup triumph and a place in the Premier Division promotion play-offs.

Rams are currently just two points clear of the Ryman League, Division 1 South drop-zone and joint-boss Ward has his sights set on heaping on more woe and to close the gap between the Oystermen and the top five.

Ward said: “I don’t really care who we beat but you always want to beat your old teams. We had great success at Ramsgate, we took them to places they could never have imagined and enjoyed some fantastic times.

“We don’t get the credit we should do for what we achieved there. It’s a great shame. It’s sad that people seem to forget but it sometimes happens when people fall out.

“The best way we can remind them is to go and beat them.”

He added: “We have a good record in derbies and hopefully we can keep that going. We know the players and the staff well. It will be nice to see some old faces but during the 90 minutes, the only thing on our mind is winning.

“The five players in the spine of the Herne Bay team on Saturday had played for us – we knew their strengths and weaknesses and tried to exploit them. It worked.”

The 4-1 win stopped a run of three straight losses and took Town 11th, nine points behind Whyteleafe in the final play-off place.

Ward said: “We are looking for six points from Ramsgate and Redhill at home on Saturday (3pm).

“We’ve said to the players the top-four looks pretty much finalised but that fifth is up for grabs and we are one of maybe a dozen teams who can get there.

“We are still a work in progress and I won’t stop saying that until next season but if we could keep this squad together for three or four years, it will be interesting to see where these young players can take us.

“We’re 11th at the moment but I’ve never finished lower than ninth in this division and I don’t want to start now. I reckon fifth-to-ninth is where we’ll finish.”

Danny Ward. Picture: Tony Flashman.
Danny Ward. Picture: Tony Flashman.
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