Sittingbourne (H) - 14th January 2025

By Josh Cole

It’s third vs second at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night as we play host to Sittingbourne in a huge Isthmian South-East encounter!

Last time out it was disappointment for The ‘Gate as we lost 1-2 at home to Sevenoaks. Read the match report from that game by clicking here.

If you haven’t already purchased your ticket for this game against Sittingbourne then you can do so by clicking here.

SITTINGBOURNE – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

The Brickies have had a brilliant season up to this point as they sit second on 60 points from 23 games. They started with two wins, a 5-0 on the league opener against Broadbridge Heath and a 2-4 away win against Farnham Town in the FA Cup preliminary round. A defeat however in their second league game came away at Ramsgate as they lost 4-2.

They bounced back to beat Ashford next, then required a replay but managed to beat Dover Athletic in the FA Cup first qualifying round. Also in the FA Trophy first qualifying round, Sittingbourne beat Sutton Common Rovers, 2-0. Another three points in the league came at home to Phoenix Sports and then another win in the FA Cup came against Lordswood. They did lose in the Velocity Cup second round, crashing out 4-1 at the hands of Erith Town.

In the FA Trophy they cruised past Kingstonian, winning 4-1 but another heavy cup defeat came next, this time in the Kent Senior Cup as they bowed out to Deal, losing 6-1. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 0-3 to Plymouth Parkway.

But, miraculously, that would be their last defeat, and it was on the 28th of September, so for a whole three months, they are unbeaten. This run has included 16 league wins and three league draws.

Probably the more impressive run has been in the FA Trophy. As a step four team in non-league, they have made it through to the fifth round of the FA Trophy, causing upset after upset and playing some beautiful football. Probably their most notorious win in this competition came against Salisbury last time out when they beat the National League South opponents 2-1 at home.

View the full league table by clicking here.

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

2-2 Draw vs Ramsgate, home (League)

0-2 Win vs East Grinstead, away (League)

1-2 Win vs Herne Bay, away (League)

1-1 Draw vs Merstham, home (League)

1-2 Loss vs Sevenoaks Town, home (League)

LAST FIVE: SITTINGBOURNE

1-2 Win vs Eastbourne Town, away (League)

4-0 Win vs Sheppey United, home (League)

2-3 Win vs Broadbridge Heath, away (League)

1-1 Draw vs Ashford United, away (League)

2-1 Win vs Salisbury, home (FA Trophy Fourth Round)

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS (all comps)

MARGATE:

Matches played: 37

Goals scored: 72

Goals conceded: 35

GD: +37

Clean sheets: 15

SITTINGBOURNE:

Matches played: 37

Goals scored: 98

Goals conceded: 39

GD: +59

Clean sheets: 17

HEAD-TO-HEAD (all data comes from the Margate FC history website)

Margate: 53 wins

Draws: 19

Sittingbourne: 41 wins

Our history with Sittingbourne dates all the way back to the first meeting in 1914 with 113 games being played from 1914-2012, which was the last meeting. And in that game, Margate won 6-1 at Hartsdown Park in the Kent Senior Cup first round.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Steven Goldup

Assistants: Michael Corderoy & Krystian Kaczala

UP THE ‘GATE

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