Ramsgate manager Ben Smith on his side’s FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round win at AFC Totton

Manager Ben Smith says Joe Taylor has joined the list of Ramsgate greats after his FA Cup winner at AFC Totton.

Rams’ 1-0 victory saw them emulate Jim Ward’s class of 2005 in reaching the First Round Proper.

Ward was in the crowd at Miller Park on Saturday, as was one of his old players, Stuart Vahid, a key man in the side who went on the cup run and finished the season as Isthmian Division 1 champions.

Local lad Taylor’s 65th-minute lob - having seen a first-half penalty saved - sent Ramsgate through to this afternoon’s First-Round draw and a potential tie against the likes of Derby and Charlton.

Rams boss Smith said: “I said to Joe before the game, as a local lad, this is your chance to put yourself up there with the Warren Schulzes and Stuart Vahids, Ramsgate greats.

“Put yourself up there with those guys who did it nearly 20 years ago.

“What we’ve got to do now is go and win a league as well.

“It was great to see Jim Ward here. He’s Ramsgate royalty in my eyes and he’s as happy as anyone else.

“Some people wouldn’t want you getting through and matching their achievement but Jim couldn’t be happier.

“He’s had one of his contacts come and watch them for us.”

Totton - of Southern League Premier South - became Ramsgate’s third higher-division scalp in this season’s FA Cup, having previously beaten Chatham and Cray Wanderers.

Smith’s side - roared on by hundreds of travelling fans in a crowd of 1,283 - were comfortably the better team in a goalless first half.

They were forced back after Taylor broke the deadlock with his ninth FA Cup goal this season but held their nerve in a terrific rearguard effort, earning £9,375 in prize money.

“It’s certainly up there as my greatest experience in football,” said Smith, who led