Ben Smith has paid tribute to Joe Taylor after Ramsgate’s captain brought up 150 goals for the club on his 200th appearance.

Taylor scored twice to achieve his latest milestone as the Isthmian South East leaders came from a goal down to beat Erith Town 3-1 at Southwood on Saturday.

It was the second goal that had everyone talking, a cheeky backheel at the end of a magnificent 23-pass move that started with keeper Tom Hadler and went through the team.

“It was a great goal,” said boss Smith, whose side levelled through TJ Jadama before Taylor’s double.

“We’ve scored a few like that.

“In terms of a team goal, every player has touched the ball.

“It’s nice when you score at the end of those and the way he scored it as well, he’s shown great creativity.

“I’m really pleased for him to do that on his 200th game.

“To score 150 goals in 200 appearances, credit to him but also credit to the boys.

“They work incredibly hard around him and he’ll be the first person to say that as well. We play to JT.

“I always knew we’d get on.

“I tried to sign him in the past, before I was at Ramsgate, and it’s been a good combination. Long may that continue.

“He’s a great player, he’s a goalscorer, he’s so calm in front of goal and his mindset is top class.

“I’m delighted for him but 150 means nothing unless he wins something and he’s determined to do that.

“There were eyebrows raised when I made him captain last year but in my mind I think he can be a great captain.

“You don’t have to be a screamer and a shouter and I think he’s taken his game to another level since he took the armband.

“Goalscorers are always very selfish but I think he’s thought more about the team since becoming captain midway through last year and he’s a perfect role model for the young players in our community and our club.”

Whether Taylor is the best striker Smith has worked with, that’s up for debate.

One thing’s for sure, he’d have loved to have partnered him with Zak Ansah, the former Arsenal youngster Smith had the pleasure of working with at Herne Bay.

“It’s hard to say JT’s the best because I’ve worked with players that have played at Premier League clubs,” said Smith.

“You think of Zak Ansah. They’re very different players and I’d have loved to put them together.

“In terms of a goalscorer JT’s numbers speak for themselves but if I could have put him and Zak together, and play Zak a little bit deeper off of him, when his body was healthy, JT would have scored an awful lot of goals because the link-up would have been outrageous.

“As a No.9, JT’s out there on his own. There’s others in non-league that have got a different style of play but in terms of how my teams play, how I want my teams to play and how I see football, JT’s the perfect No.9 for me.”

Ramsgate visit East Grinstead tonight, the match rearranged having been postponed a fortnight ago after players and fans had already travelled.

An early pitch inspection had to be cancelled after a local referee failed to show.

So it was down to the match official to make a judgement when he arrived, leaving Rams no choice make to make the journey despite knowing there was little chance of playing.

“Everyone was giving East Grinstead stick but it’s non-league football,” said Smith.

“I don’t put any blame on East Grinstead, I put more blame on the protocols in place.

“We’ve got to travel because if we don’t and the referee says we’re going to play, you’re screwed.

“Some of the protocols could be changed in that situation.

“There could be a video call to the referee showing the referee the state of the pitch.

“If it’s that waterlogged, you could see that on the video call, couldn’t you?”

Ramsgate visit Littlehampton this Saturday (3pm) boosted by news that No.2 goalkeeper Henry Newcombe is staying with the club.

Newcombe, who’s deputised for Tom Hadler this season, has turned down two offers to move on.

Smith said: “He’s a really big part of what we’re doing.

“He might not play the games but he’s a massive character at the club and he’s one of us, so I’m pleased he’s staying.

“He could be a No.1, absolutely, but I’d like to keep him for the rest of the season and if we are successful, he’ll have played a big part.

“People from the outside might not have seen that on the pitch but he will have done.

“Not one player in our dressing room would have wanted him to go and not one player treats him any differently to how they treat Tom. We all see him as important as Tom is.”