Teenage forward Kai Garrett may have to be patient for a starting chance at Ramsgate.

Garrett, 18, had a goal disallowed for offside in last Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Herne Bay and boss Ben Smith thinks it would be patronising to simply describe him as a young lad due to the amount of ability he has.

The former Gillingham Academy player, who's also been at Dover, has been limited to four substitute appearances since joining last month.

“Kai’s a young player with a lot of promise,” said Smith.

“The issue he has got is we play a certain way, we press a certain way and our shape without the ball is quite crucial to us. It’s not a ‘get it overnight’ thing so it’ll take time.

“He has to be patient because it’s going to take him time to force his way into our situation. It took Benny Bioletti a whole season last year. Benny was great for us - but Benny has now got what we want.

“It has clicked with Benny and playing games helps but, also, I cannot really afford to just give players time to gel in because there’s competition for places.

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“Kai is a much better player than just a young lad. It would be a bit patronising to call him just ‘a young lad’.

“He’s someone who still needs to develop to play to the levels we’re at and force his way into that team.

"But he’d play in most teams in this league.”

Victory at home against Herne Bay thanks to goals from Bioletti, Roarie Deacon and TJ Jadama led the Rams to a seventh straight league win. They sit five points clear of second-placed Beckenham, who have played three more games.

Smith said: “We’ll just go one game at a time.

“I think we’re going under the radar, to be honest - and I know that sounds mad - but we’re not receiving the accolades and people aren’t really talking about us.

"Long may that continue.”

While Bay had goalkeeper Harry Brooks sent off in the second half, Ramsgate keeper Tom Hadler returned between the sticks to keep a first clean sheet since October 22.

Former Gillingham and Maidstone player Hadler, 28, had not played since he suffered a concussion in this month’s 2-1 victory at Eastbourne Town.

He was initially replaced by No.2 Henry Newcombe - only for Newcombe to be dismissed late on in a 3-2 win at Ashford. That meant teenage Millwall loanee Dillon Addai came in for two games.

“Dillon has done brilliantly, certainly away to Herne Bay,” noted Smith. “Let’s not forget that Tom was a No.2 at a Football League club and it was the same for him.

“He was out on loan, so Tom has been through what Dillon is going through now.

“I hope it works out for Dillon, he gets that final push and becomes a Football League keeper. Tom has played games in the Football League.

“But you saw on Saturday, and I’d said this to Dillon, it’s about your mentality. I have no doubt that Dillon is professional. He really wants it and he works hard.

"He was great with the boys and had good concentration levels.

“He was fantastic against Herne Bay and made some incredible saves, maybe two of the best saves that I’ve ever seen live but, then at Sevenoaks, it wasn’t quite the same. That’s young goalkeepers.

“Goalkeepers really don’t mature until they’re at least 24 or 25. I think we have seen some really good spells from Hadler.

“He has been here for a while and, hopefully, we can get into a situation where Tom commits for another couple of years at the club.

"But let’s also not forget Henry Newcombe played really well away at Ashford. Bizarre circumstances meant he got suspended, but he had a great game.

“It’s hard for someone who has been sat watching to be thrown in, and he’s playing for us. We’re not just a random club at this level, are we?

"So, I’m really glad with how the goal-keepers have done and how they have taken my decisions.

“Henry was available for the Sevenoaks game but the deal we did with Millwall was Dillon would play two games.

“That’s hard for Henry to take a little bit. But I asked the boys on Saturday to just put the team first.

“I’ve left boys out that have operated at National League level and I’m asking them to just wear that because it’s about the team.

"We’re picking teams for the games we have in front of us. Certain players are going to suit certain games really well.”

Ramsgate will host Erith Town in the league this Saturday.

Smith said: “They’re a solid side.

“We’re not expecting an easy game. They will fight for everything, they’ll be a well-organised team, but Herne Bay were on Saturday.

“We’ll just deal with what is in front of us.”

They visit East Grinstead on Tuesday (7.30pm).