Assistant manager Darren Beale paid tribute to Ramsgate’s “amazing” fans after a bumper turnout at Southwood on Saturday.

A 4-1 win over Merstham was watched by a crowd of 2,027 as Rams maintained their seven-point lead at the top of Isthmian South East.

It was their biggest attendance of the season, although that figure will be beaten when they host the Thanet derby against Margate on Easter Monday.

“With over 2,000 there, it spurred us on,” said Beale.

“The fans have been amazing all season and the away support is unbelievable, too.

“We were averaging just under 1,000 before Saturday (now over) and fair play to everyone. The players really appreciate it and they hear every one of them.”

Ramsgate struggled to attract anywhere near the crowds they get now during the club’s last golden era under Jim Ward.

They won back-to-back Kent League and Isthmian Division 1 titles before reaching the Isthmian Premier play-offs, but attendances remained modest.

However, the club’s presence in the community, driven by chairman James Lawson, has seen numbers rocket in recent years.

It’s a fact not lost on Beale, who is in his second spell on the Ramsgate coaching staff.

“I was there under Jim and then Timmy Dixon and we had average crowds,” he said.

“It wasn’t bad support, but the crowds didn’t take off like they are doing now and that’s full credit to James and the board and everyone that’s worked at the club.

“They’ve got that community spirit, they’ve got people through the door, for first-team games and other fixtures.

“It’s nice to see the youth teams on the pitch as well.

“Me and Sean (Hill, fellow coach) have a weekly ritual, we go for breakfast down the seafront and we watch a few of the youth games when we get back.

“We have a walk around, watch the various games and you often hear them when they finish, they’re going to go home, grab something to eat and come back for our game in the afternoon.

“It’s that nice connection that runs all the way through the club.”

Goals from Jay Leader, TJ Jadama, Billy Munday and Josh Ajayi saw Ramsgate to victory over fifth-placed Merstham.

Rams lost the reverse fixture 3-2 a couple of weeks earlier, losing centre-half Joe Ellul to a red card.

There were no such worries in the return game as the leaders eased past their in-form visitors.

“I was pleased with everyone’s performance, from 1-11, and the substitutes,” said Beale. “It was a professional performance.

“I felt we just had the belief that with 11 players on the pitch, we’d be too strong for them and it proved just that.

“It’s just a shame we went down to 10 the last time against them.

“They were the in-form team up until the weekend, so it just proves what a task it was, but we’re decent at home and we’ve got a great home record.

“We’ve got certain players who, when we get two or three up, you can see they’ve got the bit between their teeth and they want to kick on and get a few more goals.

“But, at the end of the day, it’s about the three points and even if it’s 1-0, we’d take that all day long.”

Ramsgate have six games remaining, starting with a trip to play-off contenders Beckenham this Saturday (3pm).

Becks were the early-season leaders before being overpowered by Ramsgate and Sittingbourne.

“It’s one game at a time - we’re taking nothing for granted,” said Beale.

“Beckenham are a decent team on their day and they’ve got some good home form as well.

“They’ve got a backlog of fixtures where they’ve had issues with their pitch, where normally it’s like a carpet, so I’m not sure what it will be like on Saturday but we know we’re going to get a tough game.”

Ellul serves the final game of a three-match suspension.