Carney sees red as Three Bridges crash out of Trophy

In the 78th minute Elliott Romain, who had been warned a couple of times by referee Paul Howard, was adjudged to have fouled his opponent as he chased back to defend, although most spectators thought it looked a good challenge.

To compound matters, Romain was cautioned and skipper Lee Carney protested so much that he was initially cautioned and then cautioned again for dissent.

A double whammy that then turned into a triple whammy when Macauley Murray fizzed the resulting free-kick into the net to put Ramsgate 3-1 in front and leave Bridges with an insurmountable mountain to climb.

The first half had been a fairly dour affair with neither team getting on top. Bridges’ best efforts were a Williams Peauroux volley that hit a defender on the line and a fierce shot from Romain that keeper Daren Hawkes tipped over, while Ramsgate had been reduced to a decent effort on the turn by Ian Pulman that went over the bar.

Grant had to make a good block from Ian Pulman at the start of the second half, and Ramsgate then took a 58th minute lead when Andrew Miller struck the bar and then followed up with a header that dropped into the far corner of the net. And, shortly after Murray had fired just wide, Ramsgate doubled their tally after 72 minutes when a long throw dropped for David Pilcher to drive home.

Bridges rallied and Abu Touray set up Alex Parsons for a goal after 76 minutes.

But then it all went wrong for Bridges with the booking of Romain, the silly dismissal of Carney and the Murray free-kick which sent Ramsgate into seventh heaven.

Two minutes from time substitute Jack Granger’s first touch flicked up onto Wllliams Peauroux’s hand for a penalty which James Everitt converted to see Ramsgate into a potentially lucrative Third Qualifying Round tie.

Shame that they didn’t perform as confidently as they had in previous rounds.

Bridges: Grant, Leach, Brake, Attwater, Maxwell, Parsons, Peauroux, Carney, Romain, Touray, Ainine (Todd 60).

Unused subs: Brown, Casselamn, Morey.

Aerotron Man of the Match: Marlon Maxwell