Fun-loving Ramsgate are taking the stress out of football as manager Ben Smith bids to land Isthmian South East title

Ben Smith says Ramsgate’s pursuit of the Isthmian South East title feels more like a social event.

Rams moved on to 99 points at the top of the table with goals from Joe Taylor (2) and Alfie Paxman in a 3-1 win at Beckenham on Saturday.

They’re desperate to ensure a seven-point lead over Sittingbourne ends in championship glory but are having too much fun to be feeling any pressure.

“We’re excited to go to games, we’re enjoying what we’re doing,” said Rams boss Smith.

“It isn’t always perfect but I think we’ve accepted that.

“We’ve just got such a great group of people inside and outside the dressing room. It’s become a social event, I guess.

“It’s great seeing so many faces travel away with us and it’s like a jolly boys’ outing every week for those guys.

“Football is stressful but it doesn’t feel like that.

“The only thing we’re feeling is that desperation to win for all the efforts people have put in.

“I’ve never felt as united on all levels at a football club as I do right now this season.

“Whatever happened at the end of last season and in pre-season, that has brought everyone so close together and that bond is becoming stronger week by week.

“To have that, you realise what you might not have had in the past. Long may it continue.

“It helps when you’re winning games of football but there was no big expectation of we’ve got to win every single game.

“And when we have had road-bumps, it’s not been a disaster, it’s very much about us as a group evaluating and moving forward together.

“I’m the figurehead but everyone has massively played their part in that, my management team, the players, but also Seb Tidey (director of football), James Lawson (chairman) and Robert Hughes (secretary).

“What we’re doing as a group is