Margate Earn A Point At Home

By Josh Cole

Two goals in the first half of a tense Easter Monday clash saw Margate gain a point at home, drawing 1-1 with Cray Wanderers.

The first fifteen minutes, the ‘Gate were under the cosh. Cray, with the wind behind them, they poured bodies forward and had Margate pinned against the wall.

In the eighth minute, Enoch Muwenge fired the visitors ahead, after he ran into the space behind the back four and his low shot found the far corner.

Midway through the first half, Margate were back in it. A long ball intended for Blackman saw the ‘Gate captain get pulled to the floor, allowing Lewis Knight to smash the ball past the ‘keeper, at the back post.

Despite the ‘Gate having the wind advantage for the second half, we were unable to find a winner at home.

With the Blues coming off the back of a vital win against Cheshunt, Cray were keen to start the game quickly and stamp their authority away from home.

Eight minutes in, they took the lead. Muwenge fired a shot across goal past Harry Seaden, sinking the atmosphere around the ground.

Once Margate had weathered the early storm from the Wands, Stimmo’s men dominated proceedings.

After a swift counterattack, Cawley saw an effort saved at the near post. Just three minutes later, Stimmo introduced a change. With Cray dominating the flanks, winger Jeremiah Pinder was introduced in place of Yaser Kasim, and it had an immediate effect.

Four minutes on, we equalised. Lewis Knight, who stayed forward from the free kick, found himself open at the back post to smash in the leveller!

It was almost the quick one-two for the Blues as Pinder played in Blackman, who was bearing down on goal, but the Cray ‘keeper kept the game level with a great save.

Cawley would come close again on the 33rd minute, as a Greenhalgh free kick was delivered into the corridor of uncertainty, in the six-yard area, but the striker was unable to glance the ball home.

Going into half time, the mood in the Margate camp was good. Level at the break, and with the wind behind us, we were confident we could get that winner.

After a few half chances for Cray, Greenhalgh attempted to curl one into the far corner from outside the box, but it was whiskers wide.

A few more half chances for both sides proved that neither team wanted to lose, making for a scrappy second half showing.

The 90th minute came around and the game was there for the taking. Unfortunately, it was Cray who would have the best chance of the second half. Lockyer was patiently waiting for his time, and it came. From point blank range everyone thought he had won it, but Harry Seaden pulled off a miraculous one-handed save to keep the game locked at 1-1.

With four minutes added on, Margate had one last roll of the dice. In the 95th minute, Greenhalgh’s corner would be carried by the wind over the bar and out for a goal kick, and after that, the referee would blow his whistle.

Three unbeaten now, but still six points away from safety, wins must come and soon, starting with Saturday as we travel to face 21st place Kingstonian.

MARGATE XI: 1. Harry Seaden, 4. Yaser Kasim (Jeremiah Pinder 23’), 6. Harry Hudson, 8. Sam Blackman, 9. Steve Cawley (Louie Atkins 78’), 10. Kadell Daniel, 11. Ben Greenhalgh, 12. Fyn Rutherford, 15. Mo Kamara, 19. Lewis Knight, 20. Teddy Perkins.

Unused subs: 2. Rio Davidson-Phipps, 7. Jayden Boulton, and 17. Gabriel Duo.

Goalscorer: Lewis Knight 27’

Attendance: 336

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