Boss Ben Smith predicts Ramsgate’s Thanet derby against Margate will help to inspire the next generation of fans in the area.

A sell-out crowd of 2,500 were at Hartsdown Park on Boxing Day for a game which lived up to its billing, the Rams being denied victory in their 2-2 Isthmian South East draw by an injury-time equaliser after goals from defenders Joe Ellul and Jay Leader.

Among the packed house for the festive fixture, a first in the league between the two teams in more than 15 years, were plenty of children.

“It’s good to see the kids could enjoy it,” said Smith, who's also deputy head teacher at the nearby Hartsdown Academy. “Obviously, there were a lot of kids there on Boxing Day and that’s the most important thing.

“They will remember going to this game in 10 or 15 years’ time.

“Hopefully, they have seen the people of Thanet can behave.”

Newcombe played against Margate - one of his old clubs - only to drop out of the Rams’ squad for the title-chasing side’s 5-0 home win against AFC Croydon Athletic as No.1 Tom Hadler returned from a ban to keep a clean sheet last weekend.

Report: Margate 2-2 Ramsgate

Ramsgate’s Smith level-headed after derby draw

But Smith reiterated it was never an easy decision to drop Newcombe.

“I’ve said it all along, Henry has had a few clubs in for him,” said Smith. “Henry could have gone.

“But he’s decided to stay and he’s a massive part of our group. He’s a goalkeeper that, at 90 or 95 per cent of the clubs in our league, he would be playing.

“That’s testament to the group of players we have got and the way the club is run that he wants to stay and continue to be a part of things with us.”

One player who was involved for the Rams against AFC Croydon Athletic, as two-goal captain Joe Taylor, Alfie Paxman, Leader and substitute Josh Ajayi did the damage in front of another crowd of more than 1,000 at Southwood, was Connor Wilkins.

The versatile midfielder came off the substitutes’ bench in the 78th minute.

He had been an unused substitute in his first appearance in a matchday squad this season following a long-term injury for their Boxing Day derby draw at Margate when defenders Ellul and Leader struck in either half.

Smith said: “He’s had six months out so it was good to have him back.

“I nearly put him on at the end on Boxing Day - I probably should have - but he’s in the matchday squad and, hopefully, he’s pushing for some more minutes really soon.”

Ellul’s deflected effort at Margate was his first of the season while Leader is on three goals this term - despite having got two from as many matches over the festive period.

Smith said: “I was really pleased for Joe Ellul, getting his first goal this season.

“Absolutely, they [Ramsgate’s defenders] can score more goals.

“But we have got quite a few that are good in the air and, sometimes, they sort of end up getting in each other’s way!”

The Rams, three points behind leaders Sittingbourne with a game in hand at the end of 2024, are at home to Deal on New Year’s Day before this weekend’s trip to strugglers Three Bridges (both 3pm).

Ramsgate will aim to complete the double over Deal after a 4-2 victory at the Charles Sports Ground in August thanks to Taylor’s hat-trick and midfielder TJ Jadama’s second-half strike.