Margate Secure Draw At Home

By Tommy Park

On Saturday the 4th of December The Blues hosted Cheshunt FC at Hartsdown Park in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Margate knew they needed points from this game and despite playing a side currently 4th in the league they came out all guns blazing. This was shaping up to be an exciting game and on the day the players did not disappoint.

The first chance came from The Blues as Vance Bola broke into the box and played Calvin Ekpiteta through but his shot was caught by George Marsh. It would not take long for Margate to attack again and this time they were successful. A very early goal for Margate when in the 5th minute they were on the attack and a through ball fell right into the path of Ekpiteta who calmly slotted it home.

Margate 1-0 Cheshunt

Six minutes in, the referee halted the game for a minute's applause in memory of six year old Arthur who was a keen football fan.

The game continued and the hosts didn't let up, they were on the attack and kept the visitors under pressure. Margate were attacking quickly and countering with speed and precision, they came close once again when Bola broke on the attack and found Ekpiteta whose cross was just about cleared by the Cheshunt defence. Both teams were holding onto the ball well and trying to control the game with possession.

The Blues continued to get close on the attack with multiple chances coming from Calvin Ekpiteta on the left side linking up well with Bola in the middle causing trouble for the visitors. Bola came close to getting Margate's second goal in the 29th when he received the ball from Ekpiteta and lost his man but dragged his shot just wide.

At half time the score was Margate 1-0 Cheshunt.

The start of the second half the blues continued on the attack desperate for that second goal to consolidate their lead on the visitors. Both sides had some close chances, the visitors came close when Rowan Liburd broke into the box but as he attempted to take the ball around Ben Bridle-card, he just got a hand to it and stopped it.

The Blues were frustratingly close when a cross went in and Bola Headed the ball out into the path of Ben Greenhalgh who struck it on the half volley bouncing it into the net. To everyone's surprise the goal was disallowed for offside, presumably for Bola from the original cross.

After constant back and forth play the visitors clawed a goal back when they took the ball into the Margate box and in the ensuing melee a Cheshunt player was taken out and a penalty was given. Rowan Liburd stepped up and scored the penalty bringing his side back into the game in the 72st minute.

Margate 1-1 Cheshunt

The intense pressure margate were putting on the visitors came to fruition in the in the 78th minute when Cheshunt defender Daniel Oje was under pressure from Ben Greenhalgh, he attempted to pass the ball back to his keeper to clear but Vance Bola was quick on his feet and intercepted the backwards pass and slotted it passed George Marsh.

Margate 2-1 Cheshunt

Both teams continued to battle it out right to the end of the match and Margate fought to stay ahead and the visitors gave everything to try and get back into the game. Cheshunt came close once or twice in the final minutes, notably a chance from a corner when Adam Crowther got his head onto the cross but just headed wide.

In the 89th minute The Blues were defending a cheshunt attack when a Cheshunt winger broke into the box and as the ball was cleared he was taken down as a result. A tough one to call but the referee awards Cheshunt their second penalty of the game. Rowan Liburd stepped up again and this time Bridle-Card made the save but to his despair Liburd followed his shot in and scored the rebound.

Margate 2-2 Cheshunt

Heartbreak again for Margate in the dying minutes of the game as a penalty stole the extra points from The Blues.

Margate XI: Ben Bridle-Card, George Lamb, Joe Anderson, Montel Agyemang, Lewis Knight, Crossley Lema, Calvin Ekpiteta, Sam Blackman, Ken Feyi, Vance Bola, Ben Greenhalgh.

Subs: Veron Nzinga, Reece Prestedge, Fyn Rutherford, Martial Godo(85’), James Bessey-Saldanha(58’).

Goalscorers: Calvin Ekpiteta (5’), Vance Bola (78’) Attendance - 356

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