Late Comeback Sees Women Rescue A Point

By David Hansen

A trip to Gillingham on Sunday afternoon, saw a superb Margate team recover from two down at half-time to level the scores and earn a point at the Star Meadow Sports Ground!

League champions XL started the game quick, creating a couple of early chances. The first from a cross with a shot on the volley going just wide of the goal. The other chance ended in a goal when a 30-yard shot from the XL Midfielder, Yasmin Young, was too high for Speller.

The reaction from Margate was brilliant. Several good chances were created, starting with Emily Hall winning the ball back, before smacking a shot towards goal, forcing a good save from the ‘keeper.

Another chance came moments later when Rebecca Niblett got involved. A dangerous cross into the six-yard box was missed by everyone, including the outstretched leg of captain Becca Slevin, who couldn’t turn the ball home.

Even though Margate found themselves on top in this passage of the game, it would be XL to double their lead in the 17th minute. A corner was swung towards the back post and eventually put into the net by Ellie-Mae Hogan. However, there were claims from Margate that a hand was used to put the ball in. The ref was happy with the goal, and XL took a two goal lead into the break.

The 2nd half was dominated by Margate, but it took until the 70th minute to get their reward. Coming from a well taken free kick by Abbie Luby, as it found the far corner of the goal to get Margate back into the game!

The equaliser came in stranger circumstances. A break down in communication between the goalkeeper and Ellie-Mae Hogan and a hard high press from The ‘Gate, lead to Hogan heading the ball past her own ‘keeper and into the back of the net to make it 2-2 with Margate hungry for a winner.

Unfortunately, six minutes of added time wasn’t enough for the ‘Gate to get a third so the spoils were shared after a performance that manager, Steph Meek, would be pleased with.

The draw doesn’t do anything for XL Academy, as they are already champions but for Margate the draw means pending the match between Tunbridge Wells Foresters and Bromleians, two wins from the final two games could still secure a 2nd place finish!

Steph Meek had her say from the 2-2 draw:

“The afternoons performance was a real display of determination and resilience. From early on there were frustrations surrounding decision making, and it's easy to let these affect play. It's always tough facing top of the table, the added pressure knowing that decisions are unlikely to swing in your favour leaves for yet another mental barrier to overcome.

“The first goal was our fault entirely. A lapse in concentration and delay in press, allowed XL to hit and hope from far out. Unfortunately, those sorts of goals are almost impossible to save, especially when you're playing an outfield player in goal.

“The second goal was fielded into the net by the hands of an XL player in the box. Unfortunately, the referee didn't see and despite some condemning body language, the goal was allowed.

“2-2 was not an accurate reflection of the match, and a high press often left the opposition battling to get the ball out of their defensive third. Our second goal demonstrates the success of the aggressive press which was played.

“We head into next week’s fixture on a high, with two wins from two needed to challenge for second, the morale is vital. A win on Sunday will see the team secure a minimum of a well-deserved top three finish!”

Margate XI: Speller, Charman, Kemp (Mann 74’), Coltham-Lai, Greetham, Slevin (c), Hall (Scales 45’), Kew-Stroud, Luby, Niblett, Godden

Subs: Scales, Mann, Meek

Goalscorers: Luby (70’), Own Goal (90’).

Player of the match: Abbie Greetham

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