Margate Held To Draw With AFC Croydon

By Josh Cole

The ‘Gate remained unbeaten in the league but rued missed chances against AFC Croydon at Hartsdown Park.

Player/manager Ben Greenhalgh opened the scoring for the home side after 27 minutes when he crossed a ball right on top of the ‘keeper and the ball found its way into the net!

AFC Croydon would equalise ten minutes later through Ademola Shokunbi as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Jordon Ababio put us back in front just before the half-time whistle after Max Walsh found the number seven at the back post and he headed home.

However, Croydon would equalise again in the 77th minute from a corner with the ball being tapped in at the back post.

Margate came into the game full of confidence, still unbeaten and now into the playoff places, and The ‘Gate dominated from early on.

Walsh had the first chance inside two minutes, but he fired wide of the post, then six minutes later Ibrahim Olutade was tackled in the box but the cries for a pen were waved away by the ref.

The game hit a bit of a lull until the 27th minute when Greenhalgh’s cross found its way into the net via the ‘keeper!

But just ten minutes later the away side found a leveller through Shokunbi as he smashed the ball past Tom Wray.

More corners and chances for Margate came and went but just before the half, Ababio’s back post header from a Walsh cross gave us a deserved lead going into the break!

Just minutes into the second half Greenhalgh created a huge chance for Harvey Brand to head The ‘Gate two goals in front but it hit the crossbar.

With the Blues pinning Croydon deep into their own territory chances were coming, but just not being taken and that would come back to bite Margate.

In the 77th minute, against the run of play, Croydon were level again from a corner which was tapped in at the back post by Brandon Perrick.

That would be all she wrote at Hartsdown Park. Margate still unbeaten in the league but must feel like its two points dropped rather than a point gained on home turf.

Margate XI: 1. Tom Wray, 2. Harrison Hatfull, 4. Harvey Brand, 5. Tyrone Sterling, 7. Jordon Ababio (James Bessey-Saldanha 78’), 9. Ibrahim Olutade (Louie Atkins 85’), 11. Ben Greenhalgh, 12. Lewis Knight, 14. Brandon Davey, 17. Kai Garande, and 19. Max Walsh.

Margate Media Man of the Match: Ben Greenhalgh

Goalscorers: Greenhalgh 27’ and Ababio 45+4’

Attendance: 464

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