Season Review - December Edition

By Ryan Day

After the departure of striker Joe Taylor at the end of November, Margate started December with a trip to Potters Bar Town who were in similar form to the ‘Gate where they were everything but consistent.

It appeared that the Blues wouldn’t miss Taylor as goals from Frannie Collin and on-loan Colchester midfielder George Brown secured another three points on the road for Margate who continued to impress away from home.

It was back to Hartsdown Park a week later as the ‘Gate welcomed struggling Wingate & Finchley. The Blues included new signings Louis Wells and Connor Dymond but the bad run at home just wouldn’t shift as they fell behind within the opening eight minutes. Goals from Ben Swift and Tom Murphy, on loan from Dartford saw the Blues go in front but there was late heartbreak for the ‘Gate faithful as a goal from the visitors in the 93rd minute meant the ‘Gate’s torrid home form continued.

With the FA Trophy taking centre stage, Margate enjoyed a weekend off having already exited the competition, however they were back in action straight after as they welcomed AFC Hornchurch to Hartsdoiwn Park for some midweek football under the lights. Once again frustration was the key word of the evening for the Blues faithful who endured more torrid weather as the ‘Gate were somehow held to a 0-0 draw despite registering plenty of shots on target.

With no Boxing Day fixture scheduled for the 2018/19 season, Margate opened its turnstiles at Hartsdown Park for the final time of 2018 with the visit of bottom placed Whitehawk for the McDonalds Family Fun Day. In the end it was the activities around the pitch that would have pleased the strong 800 plus crowd as Margate slumped to a miserable 3-1 defeat to round off a dismal month of December where they managed just one win from four games.

More extraordinarily for Margate it was centre back Ben Swift who finished the month as Margate’s top goal scorer with two goals having netted against Wingate & Finchley and the only goal in that defeat to Whitehawk.

The Blues faithful were hoping that the turn of the New Year would bring a turn in fortunes, especially at Hartsdown Park where they had only managed two league wins so far this season.

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