Harrow Borough (A) - 7th October 2023

By Josh Cole

We go from the FA Cup to the FA Trophy this weekend as we travel to Harrow Borough in the Third and final Qualifying Round!

The ‘Gate fell to defeat against Chesham in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round losing 2-0 away from home. You can read the full match report by clicking here.

Watch the interview with Manager Reece Prestedge after the defeat last Saturday by clicking here.

SEASON’S SO FAR

Harrow Borough currently sit in 20th place in the Southern Premier Division South racking up eight points from ten games. They have two wins against Plymouth Parkway at home (2-1) and Sholing at home (3-2) with two draws against Hendon away (2-2) and Dorchester Town away (2-2) but then have six losses which confines them to the relegation spots. They have scored 14 goals but conceded 27 giving them a -13-goal difference.

The ’Gate haven’t played a league game since the 23rd of September where we lost 4-1 to Canvey Island. Since then, we have dropped to 17th place still on nine points but have only played seven games, which is the joint least number of games with six teams. We have three wins against Whitehawk (2-1), Concord Rangers (1-2), and Potters Bar (2-1) but four losses against Hornchurch (4-1), Cheshunt (1-2), Folkestone (2-0) and Canvey Island (4-1). We have scored nine goals but conceded 15 giving us a -6-goal difference.

LAST FIVE: HARROW BOROUGH

2nd September – Loss vs Bracknell Town, home (0-2) FA Cup First Qualifying Round

9th September – Win vs Sholing, home (3-2) League

16th September – Loss vs Hanwell Town, away (2-1) League

23rd September – Win vs Plymouth Parkway, home (2-1) League

26th September – Loss vs Hayes & Yeading, away (3-0) League

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

16th September – Draw vs Folkestone Invicta, home (2-2) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

19th September – Win vs Folkestone Invicta, away (1-3) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay

23rd September – Loss vs Canvey Island, away (4-1) League

26th September – Loss vs Hythe Town, away (2-1) Kent Senior Cup Firs Round

30th September – Loss vs Chesham United, away (2-0) FA Cup Third Qualifying Round

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

The ‘Gate and the ‘Boro have played ten times dating back to November 2012, with Margate winning four games, Harrow winning one game and five ending in a draw. The most recent fixture between the two sides was a league match back in 2018 where Margate went to Harrow and won 0-4 with two goals from Jordan Chiedozie, a goal from Kane Haysman and one from Frannie Collin.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Saturday’s Match referee will be Daniel Ripton, and he will be assisted by his two assistant referee’s Adam Everett and Daniel Merrall.

KIT COLOURS

Harrow Borough will be sporting their red kit for this Isuzu FA Trophy clash with Margate playing in the white and black away strip.

Remember to follow our official X account @margate_fc for live match updates commencing from 2:15pm, if you aren’t able to make it

STADIUM ADDRESS

EARLSMEAD STADIUM

CARLYON AVENUE

HARROW

HA2 8SS

Blues Crash Out of FA Trophy

By Riley Finch 

Margate rue missed chances as we face an early exit in the Isuzu FA Trophy losing 1-0 to Harrow Borough on Saturday afternoon.

It looked certain that penalties would be the only way to separate the two sides with both sides failing to capitalise on good chances.

While that turned out to be the case in the end, it was not in the way of a penalty shoot-out.

A dominant first-half display seemed to have paid off for The Gate as they were given a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Ben Greenhalgh was unable to give his side the lead however as his penalty was brilliantly saved by the Harrow keeper.

The Gate picked up where they left off in the second-half creating chances and searching for the opening goal of the game.

A breakaway attack from the hosts however resulted in double jeopardy for the Blues as Skye Salmon’s heroic goal line clearance resulted in both a penalty and a red card with Salmon appearing to use his hand to keep the ball from going in the net.

In a tale of two penalties, Harry Seaden’s save could not prevent the hosts from scoring as the rebound was thumped in.

Despite having just ten-men, The Gate worked hard to try and find an equalizer.

Margate even had the ball in the net at one point only to be ruled offside after a pin-point strike was met by Sam Blackman who was deemed in an offside position in the 90th minute of the match.

Debutant Rohdell Gordon spoke after the match: “Buzzing to make my debut, we’ve got a really good group of lads in the dressing room but obviously it’s a tough one to take.”

“When you’re in a rut, the fine margins are the things which kill you and we felt that today.

“On a different day, Ben scores his pen and it’s a completely different game. Everybody misses pens, it happens.

“We must take ownership. We created enough to score. It’s on us.”

Reece Prestidge opted for a five-back today, something we may seem more of this season.

“We tried it out Thursday. It worked well today. We all agree it suits us as a team.”

While we all love a cup run, a positive from today is that it’s all eyes on the league as we aim to climb the table.

“We can make the play-offs this season, I really believe that. We have ten days’ rest and then we go again, all focus is on the league.”

Margate return to Isthmian Premier Division action on Tuesday 17th October as they welcome Chatham Town to Hartsdown Park for a 7:45pm kick-off.

Margate: Seaden, Hatfull (Vasiliou 82’), Johnson, Poku, Sterling, Hudson, Blackman, Cawley, Greenhalgh, Gordon (Rutherford 82’), Salmon

Subs not used: Hobbs, Duncanson, Bowman, Mazzone, Sutcliffe.

Attendance

126