Ramsgate manager Ben Smith believes it’s a straight fight with Cray Valley for the Isthmian South East title | Joe Taylor scores his 100th Rams goal in 3-2 win at Sittingbourne

Ramsgate boss Ben Smith says the Isthmian South East title fight is effectively a two-horse race after a perfect Christmas.

Rams won all three games over the festive period to sit nine points clear at the top of the table.

Unbeaten Cray Valley, who have climbed to second with two games in hand, appear to be their only genuine rivals.

That’s with Three Bridges and Sittingbourne now 12 and 13 points behind respectively, having played a game more.

“In terms of the title charge, it’s probably looking like two teams now, isn’t it?” said Smith.

“There’s a lot of games to go but it looks like it’s between us and Cray Valley. You’d think so.

“It doesn’t look like Cray are going anywhere so we’ve got to keep winning.

“Nothing’s won in January. We’ve got to keep going and if we keep going as we are, anyone chasing us has got to be perfect.”

Ramsgate - 3-1 winners over Herne Bay on Boxing Day - beat Sevenoaks 1-0 on Saturday through TJ Jadama’s 89th-minute strike.

And they recovered from an early own goal to win an intense match 3-2 at Sittingbourne on New Year’s Day.

Jordan Green, Jadama and Joe Taylor’s 100th Ramsgate goal opened up a 3-1 lead before the Brickies added their second.

The manner of the victory pleased Smith, with Rams showing another side to their game.

“Sittingbourne were very good,” said Smith.

“It’s a tough, tough place to go.

“Ryan Maxwell’s got them running through brick walls for him and credit to him. He’s a very good manager.

“I’m delighted to come away with three points because if you think we’re going to slip up somewhere, that was probably high on the list of places.

“The pitch was shocking - it certainly didn’t suit us - but we kept plugging away and we showed a lot of character, which people don’t