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There isn’t time for Ramsgate to dwell on defeat, insists player-manager Jamie Coyle.
The Rams’ title hopes are all but over after they lost 2-0 at Isthmian South East leaders Chatham on Easter Monday as their 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions since Coyle permanently took the reins in early February ended.
They are now five points behind Kevin Hake’s Chats, with just six points to play for, and a tough final two league fixtures to come.
But Coyle said: “We haven’t got time to feel sorry for ourselves.
“They’ve got to think about all the positive performances they’ve put on recently in previous games. To be on the unbeaten run we have been on, that’s testament to them.
“I keep using the word ‘quality’ because that was the difference on Monday.
“If we show that, and we have got the ability to show that, then we’ll have a good chance in the play-offs.”
The big matches keep coming for Ramsgate, though, who host third-placed Whitehawk this Saturday.
Only a point separates the two teams while Beckenham, in fourth spot, are five points behind Rams but with a game in hand.
“It’s another cup final,” said Coyle, whose side are due to finish their regular league campaign at Ashford.
“We knew at the start of the season, looking at the final four fixtures, it was going to be really tough.
"Monday, I felt we were slightly off it.
“We watched Whitehawk a couple of weeks ago against Chatham when our game against Chichester got called off.
"So that gave us the opportunity to watch Whitehawk, as well as Chatham, so we’ve done our research.
“We’ll work hard on how we’ll try to counteract their strengths on Saturday.”
Ramsgate’s top-of-the-table clash attracted a record crowd at Chatham of 2,540.
Asked if that experience may help his troops if they are forced to earn promotion via the play-offs and handle another occasion in front of another massive crowd, Coyle replied: “Absolutely.
“I couldn’t fault the effort and the desire. It was just a little bit of quality that decided the game.
“We got in some good positions in the final third and we didn’t have the quality that Chatham showed. That’s why they have come away 2-0 winners.
“It’s frustrating but the boys have been brilliant in the last 12 games.”
Ramsgate are still eyeing cup silverware, too, and will visit fierce rivals Margate in a Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final on Tuesday with a place in the Final at Gillingham’s Priestfield stadium up for grabs.
“We’ll do all we can to get a good result and performance against Margate, and for us to have a Final to look forward to towards the end of the season,” said Coyle.
“That’s something else we’re focusing on.
“Both the league and the cup are important to us, especially when we’re playing our local rivals.”
Midfielder TJ Jadama struck late in a 1-1 home draw against Beckenham on Saturday after he and defender Taofiq Olomowewe both scored in last Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Chichester.
