Collin Converts Penalty To Seal Three Points

Tom Morris

The Gate returned to winning ways on the road, thanks to a Frannie Collin penalty against Leatherhead at Fetcham Grove.

After a minute’s silence prior to kick off to remember our fallen heroes our own champions set about navigating a tricky tie against a spirited Leatherhead, whose lowly league position flattered to deceive. 

As the referee’s whistle blew the heavens opened, and the first ten minutes were a scrappy affair as both sets of players adjusted to the wet and slippy conditions.

Margate’s first chance came from a corner on 11 minutes; Liam Friend rose to meet the ball but put his effort over the bar. 

A Frannie Collin free kick two minutes later had the same result as Zaki Oualah remained untroubled in the Leatherhead goal. 

After 18 minutes and with the rain momentarily subsiding Robert Cullen threatened with a snap shot from 18 yards, from the following corner Henry Newcombe saved well from Shaun Okojie’s header. 

As the heavy rain continued and the conditions worsened, the game became a scrappy affair with a lot of high balls and midfield challenges, as Leatherhead began to press forward and adapt their game both Ben Swift and Jack Paxman made good defensive tackles to break up the respective Leatherhead attacks.  

The game almost turned in Leatherhead's favour on 37 minutes as Henry Newcombe made a point blank save from Travis Gregory’s header before Shaun Okojie hammered the follow up against the post and the ball was eventually cleared. T

he Gate were forced into their first substitution on 40 minutes as Sid Sollis replaced George Brown who appeared to have picked up an ankle injury.  

The first half ended with Margate on top as Joe Taylor ran down the left channel, cut inside and was unable to get a clean shot away as Leatherhead scrambled the ball clear. 0-0 at the break.

The rain continued to pour down during the half time interval and the second half started much like the first with neither team able to get a foothold on the ball and create a clear-cut chance. 

Leatherhead pushed forward and had a succession of corners in the 55th-57th minute and although the ball ping-ponged around the six-yard box, the Gate defence held firm and the ball was cleared on numerous occasions.

After another goal mouth scrambled where it seemed easier to score than miss, Sid Sollis broke away down the right-hand flank and almost found Collin at the back post with a deep cross. 

The game had opened up and the action switched from one box to the other.  

In the 80th minute we witnessed the defining moment in the match: Flisher flicked a long ball through towards the penalty area where Collin met and controlled the ball before being tugged back by the Leatherhead number 14 Charlie Wassmer. Penalty to the Gate!

Collin stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot kick into the bottom right hand side of the goal sending the keeper the wrong way.

In the following minutes, Leatherhead threw everything with a succession of corners and on 84’ minutes, Newcombe made the save of the game tipping a curling effort from 16 yards around the post. 

With the rain still falling the referee blew for the final whistle and the players celebrated in front of the travelling fans, another three points picked up on the road. 

The Gate's run of away games continues on Wednesday 14th November at Merstham before Margate go to Kingstonian on Saturday 17th November.

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