U23's Defeated In First Pre-Season Game

By Paul Meade

Margate U23’s started their pre-season campaign at home to Woodnesborough FC on Friday evening.

With many changes from last season’s league winning team it was a cautious start from a very young starting eleven.

Margate could have taken the lead in the 21st minute after a well worked short corner saw a fine drive and shot from Zak Jobe hit the wrong side of the post.

The ‘Gate thought they had scored again ten minutes later when a superb lay off from striker Woody Pitman set up the impressive Jamie Summers left foot strike that crashed against the visitors’ cross bar. This encourages more positive forward play and an identical long-range strike from George Adams also saw his effort come back off the bar.

 It was Woodnesborough that thought they had scored but for a fine save from first half 16-year-old ‘keeper, Blake Winter.

The second half continued with Margate pressure, and this was finally rewarded in the 52nd minute when some great combination play between Renas Akter and Jude Buchannan created a scoring opportunity for Tom Goulette to finally put The ‘Gate ahead.

The hard-working opposition thought they had equalised in the 74th minute but a brilliant one handed save from Brandon Lock tipped the strikers effort over the bar.

The coaching team made eight changes in the second half giving valuable game time to the rest of the squad. This did naturally see a disruption in shape and formation allowing for Woodnesborough to gain control of the rest of the second half and ultimately scored two goals in the last five minutes.

Overall, this was a very positive start with very good new individual performances in front of a healthy crowd.

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