Blues Win With Last Gasp Goal

By Reece Hibbird

Tuesday the 10th of September saw The ‘Gate play host on a wet and windy night, to one of their rivals and newly promoted, Deal Town.

Before the game, Margate applauded Harry Hudson, who appeared for the 100th time in a Blue shirt!

It promised to be action packed and it certainly delivered, the first chance coming early in the game to Ibrahim Olutade after a flick on from Lewis Knight, but the chance was squandered.

Tom Wray was called into action just shy of the 12th minute, forced into making an acrobatic save by Deal Town.

The game continued to be end-to-end, with neither side creating anything lucrative, until the 33rd minute. Gabriel Duo went on a majestic run across the pitch before being brought down. The ball fell to the feet of Olutade, who forced a save from the Deal Town ‘keeper.

Margate found themselves on a counterattack at the end of the first half, with Harvey Brand picking Olutade out for a first time shot, unfortunately for The ‘Gate, the shot was over the bar sending the teams in level at the break.

Deal Town certainly came out with a vengeance for the second half, as Millbank drilled one into the bottom corner on the 52nd minute mark, giving Wray no chance, and the visitors something to hang on to.

Olutade then had a chance three minutes later from a Greenhalgh free kick which he took. The initial shot saved but he managed to tap home the rebound! The ‘Gate were level again and started to take charge.

The heavens opened at HDP which appeared to help The ‘Gate, as they began to take full control of the game. Harrison Hatfull delivered a ball into Jordon Ababio who couldn’t divert goalwards in the 73rd minute.

Greenhalgh tried his luck from 25-yards in the 84th, only to see his shot rolled wide of the post.

90 minutes were up, and five additional minutes were shown, there was a sense of frustration around the ground as it looked to be another draw for the blues.

Into the 96th minute we went, the rain still hammering down, fans still singing. A long ball lumped forward into the Deal Town box, bouncing around eventually falls to Louie Atkins who finished emphatically, sending Hartsdown Park into delirium! The scenes were unreal as the boys rushed to celebrate with the fans!

That was to be the last piece of action, with the ‘Gate taking all three points on a tough night of conditions and opposition.

Margate XI: 1. Tom Wray, 2. Harrison Hatfull, 4. Harvey Brand, 6. Harry Hudson, 9. Lukas Franzen-Jones (Louie Atkins 76’), 10. Ibrahim Olutade, 11. Ben Greenhalgh, 12. Lewis Knight, 14. Brandon Davey, 15. Gabriel Duo (Jordon Ababio 65’), 17. Kai Garande.

Goalscorers: Olutade 53’ and Atkins 90+6’

Margate Media Man of the Match: Harry Hudson

Attendance: 566

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