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Sport

Ramsgate boss Lloyd Blackman on their run to the FA Cup third qualifying round

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 00:00, 25 September 2018

Lloyd Blackman has described Ramsgate's "magical" FA Cup win at Gosport as one of his proudest days in football.

The former Maidstone and Margate striker masterminded a 3-2 victory at the home of the Southern League Premier side on Saturday.

Now the Rams are into the third qualifying round for only the second time since the 1970s.

Ramsgate head coach Lloyd Blackman Picture: Chris Davey

Next they'll travel to Hemel Hempstead of National League South on Saturday, October 6.

Blackman said: "The magic of the FA Cup goes back to when you're a youngster watching it on TV.

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"I've experienced it as a fan, as a player and now as a manager.

"That was one of the highlights of my career, not just as a manager but football in general.

"It was everything; the performance, the result, the connection between the supporters and the coach journey home.

"It was just a magical day and a memory that will live with me forever."

Rory Smith opened the scoring on 11 minutes but Gosport, FA Trophy finalists in 2014, were soon level through Patrick Suraci.

Kyron Lightfoot netted either side of half-time to make it 3-1 before Craig McAllister pulled one back for Borough.

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However, the hosts finished with 10 men and couldn't break the Bostik South East side down again.

Blackman said: "It was a special day and we deserved the victory.

"If you'd asked who was playing in the higher league, you'd have said Ramsgate and that was the icing on the cake for me.

"We didn't go there just for the day, we did our homework on them and looked at areas we felt we could exploit.

"That's where our goals came from, so the players not only took it on board but were able to execute it like we wanted."

Ramsgate, the lowest-ranked Kent club left in the FA Cup, have now earned themselves £17,890 in prize money.

Blackman said: "We haven't got a fantastic budget down at Ramsgate and that's why the big plan I've been talking about for the last year or two is our model.

"When you win games like we did the other day, it shows the players are heading in the right direction and financially, you're getting rewarded so you're winning on both sides.

"For us to pocket nearly £18,000 is a lot of money to us and I'm pleased for the club."

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