Midfielder TJ Jadama is capable of playing much higher than Isthmian South East level, Ramsgate manager Ben Smith admits.

Jadama was the man who looked set to break the deadlock in the Rams’ 3-1 win over Isthmian Premier Folkestone in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday - only to be hauled down by Invicta’s Eze Ebuzoeme, who was sent off by referee Josh Langley-Fineing for his last-man challenge.

Ebuzoeme’s dismissal so early at Southwood proved critical as midfielder Lewis Gard gave them the lead shortly before half-time and winger Alfie Paxman bagged a brace, either side of a consolation effort by Folkestone forward Dan Smith.

“Teams know about TJ - and I’m sure a lot of their talks will have been about what he does and how to stop it,” said Smith on Jadama, who already has three goals this campaign. “But it’s one thing seeing it, it’s another thing stopping it.

“TJ is a player that has been at this level for a while now. We’re very lucky to have him at Ramsgate where he’s a local boy, does a lot of coaching in the local area through Ramsgate Football Club, and it’s that perfect fit.

“He could certainly be playing a lot higher, couldn’t he?”

Smith felt Ebuzoeme would have been better off in allowing Jadama to score, rather than being sent for an early bath inside the first 10 minutes with the game still goalless.

Report: Ramsgate 3-1 Folkestone

Reflecting on the Rams’ victory, he said: “We won’t get carried away.

“I think the sending off kills the game but, obviously, it’s brain-dead from their player (Ebuzoeme). You take your medicine there, don’t you?

“If you’re down to 10 men against us, we’re going to keep the ball well. We’ll move it about and it’s going to be a long 90 minutes.

“You’d definitely rather take your punishment (of conceding) and then try to come back from that.”

Ramsgate had made three switches from the side which were 4-2 winners at Deal in the league on Bank Holiday Monday, while debutant defender Myles Judd was introduced off the substitutes’ bench.

And Smith, whose side are scheduled to host Hythe on Tuesday, said: “We made quite a lot of changes today. We rotated the squad.

“The same as I said this time last year, the FA Cup isn’t our priority. Yes, our focus is on the game at hand, but we have got another eye on Hythe on Tuesday.

“That was in the back of our minds before the game. I think we have managed to rotate the squad really well.

“Some players have stepped in and done really well.”

Having pocketed another £2,250 in prize money, the Rams await the draw to find out who they will get in the FA Cup second qualifying round.

While promotion is the No.1 goal for last term’s play-off semi-finalists, Smith, who led Ramsgate to the second round proper in 2023/24 during a memorable run, would love to experience more cup joy, too.

“Whoever the biggest club is,” he said on who he would like to come up against in the next round. “Today, it’s not our best crowd - it’s still more than 1,000 - but it’s not our best crowd.

“Obviously, it’s the last weekend of the school holidays. For us as a whole community club, it does drop our attendances a bit. Once kids are back at school and into their normal routines, we’ll have lots of families here.

“Let’s get another big crowd in. We want challenges at the end of the day. I want to come up against Folkestone, who people are tipping to do well this year, and last year when we got to the second round, we beat loads of teams from the league above or higher.

“That’s the beauty of the FA Cup. Sometimes, you play a team that you have never come across before.

“We played AFC Totton. They’re a very well-backed and supported club near Southampton. That was a great experience.

“Many supporters would say that’s one of the best games and away-days that they have ever had at the club.

“That’s what the FA Cup is about, bringing those experiences to the people here at Ramsgate.”

The Rams’ game against Hythe will see Smith’s No.2, Darren Beale, come up against the club he only left a matter of weeks ago when he departed Reachfields alongside then-boss Sammy Moore.