Gate's Unbeaten Run Ended By Wonderstrike

By Tom Morris

The Gate suffered a first defeat in ten games as Jamie Cureton scores a worthy late winner in a tightly contested game at the ProKit UK Stadium. 

Margate made the trip to Bishop's Stortford hoping to extend their nine game unbeaten run under the management of Jay Saunders, with only one change to the starting eleven (Marshall Wratten being replaced by George Brown).

A settled Gate side set about trying to upset the hosts and were almost ahead inside 4 minutes as Jordy Robins played a delightful through ball releasing Tobi Sho-Silva through on goal; he managed to shrug of the challenge of the recovering defender but put his shot narrowly over after cutting inside his marker.

Bishop's Stortford recovered quickly and had a succession of corners but failed to test the Gate defence, Noel Leighton then lead a 10th minute counter attack but could only blast over from 25 yards. 

Five minutes later he had his second notable chance as he chased down a long ball, cut inside two defenders and shot narrowly wide of the near post from just inside the box.

In the 23rd minutes skipper Liam Friend could’ve doubled his goal tally for the season twice; initially toe poking a cross into the keepers’ gloves before jumping with Leighton and heading the following cross wide of the back post. 

This miss could’ve proved costly but Gate fans were celebrating in the 25th minutes as Ben Swift’s fierce drive was parried by the keeper and Leighton was in the right place to cushion the rebound into the back of the net. 

The next ten minutes saw little action of note and after three added minutes the referee blew for half time. 

Both teams started the second at pace with a lot of energy being used up on closing down and counter attacking.

In the 51st minute, Brown escaped his marker down the left flank and crossed into the box for Leighton to head over the bar.

Four minutes later Cureton forced a smart save from Perntreau to win a corner for the hosts, but it was well cleared, and the game remained 1.1.

In the 60th minutes James Rogers almost scored his first goal of the season as he picked up a lose ball and curled a delightful shot straight against the cross bar with the keeper well beaten.

Shortly after Jordan Ababio replaced Jack Paxman as The Gate looked to push on and find the winning goal.

Sho-Silva capitalised on an error at the back and set Leighton up with a deep cross in the 75th minutes, but under pressure he couldn’t keep his headed effort down. 

Bishop's Stortford threatened with several long throw-ins and a corner, but the Gate defence held firm.

The defining actions came in the last five minutes of regulation time, first Mills and Sho-Silva combined brilliantly down the left flank to fashion a chance for Leighton in the box, but he failed to keep his shot on target. 

Two minutes later and with the clock running down, Cureton latched onto a long ball launched over the top and struck a perfectly timed half volley over the head of Perntreau and into the back of the net. 

2-1 Bishops Stortford. And what a goal it was to win the match.

Margate: Perntreau, Mills, Dymond, Rogers, Friend ©, Swift, Paxman, Robins, Leighton, Sho-Silva, Brown.

Subs: Kallmeier, Ababio, Fitchett, Mesquita, Bignell.

The Gate are next in action on Saturday 13th April as we welcome Potters Bar to Hartsdown Park, kick off at 15:00. Purchase your ticket here.

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