'Gate Lose Tight Affair At HDP

By Josh Cole

The ‘Gate lose out in a tight affair against the league champions at Hartsdown Park.

Despite dominating most of the first half, Margate found themselves a goal down in the 36th minute after Akinwande found a wide open Scannell at the back post, and the winger tucked his shot away for 0-1.

The second half became more open as Margate pushed on for an equaliser, but the Hornchurch defence held firm and somehow the game ended with the visitors taking home the three points.

The Blues started brightly in front of the fans, with Greenhalgh shifting the ball onto his right foot and firing a ball across goal in the 3rd minute.

Danger man, Jeremiah Pinder, was full of confidence after two back-to-back excellent performances and Stimson was keen to get his tricky winger involved. Pinder would see a lot of the ball, getting past Hoban with ease every time, but just couldn’t grab a goal.

In the 25th minute, a Greenhalgh free kick was pushed only as far as Pinder, who struck an effort which was blocked. The ball then fell to Knight, whose shot trickled out of play, after taking a deflection.

Kamara used his physical presence to bully past the Urchins midfield and he let fly a rocket, heading for the top corner, but it was well saved by Wright in goal.

Just a minute later, the visitors found themselves ahead. A rare attack from the Urchins saw Akinwande pick up space on the right-hand side and he delivered the ball towards Scannell, and with space, he tucked his shot into the bottom corner.

A minute before the break, Margate came close to an equaliser. Duo stabbed the ball towards goal, but it was saved. The rebound fell to Cawley, but his effort was also saved.

Duo would continue to prove a key player, running all over the pitch and in the 50th minute he put a dangerous ball across the six-yard box but no one in Blue was able to turn home.

17 minutes later, the next key moment would come. Hudson, on his weaker left foot, bent a ball towards the near post but Cawley flicked an effort over the bar.

Stimmo rolled the dice in the 85th minute, bringing on Kadell Daniel who had an instant impact.

Daniel pulled the ball back for Hudson and he unleashed a shot which was heroically blocked.

As the game reached the 90th minute, a goal for the ‘Gate looked less and less likely. Last chance saloon came but it didn’t stick and that was it.

A good performance at home but ultimately Hornchurch grinded out the win. We remain three points behind Cheshunt with only two games left to go. We go again next Saturday at home against Wingate & Finchley.

MARGATE XI: 1. Harry Seaden, 3. Toby Stevenson (Kadell Daniel 85’), 6. Harry Hudson ©, 8. Gabriel Duo, 9. Steve Cawley, 11. Ben Greenhalgh, 12. Fyn Rutherford, 15. Mo Kamara (Vinnie Bowman 68’), 18. Jeremiah Pinder (Destiny Oladipo 68’), 19. Lewis Knight, 20. Teddy Perkins.

Unused subs: Jayden Boulton, Reece Hobbs (GK).

Attendance: 499

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