Gate Suffer Slender Defeat

By Tom Morris

The ‘Gate suffer defeat on the road as Akinola’s deflected strike earns Haringey Borough all three points.

In our changed white shorts and with O’Shane Stewart making his debut in midfield the ‘Gate started Saturday’s BetVictor Isthmian League game against a lively Haringey Borough side who were looking for their fourth successive win. The opening exchanges were scrappy, possession was surrendered on numerous occasions and there were few chances of note, however our hosts should have been 1-0 up in the 19th minute as McDonald found himself one on one with Tupper, who stood firm and made the save when a goal seemed the more likely outcome.

Margate’s best chance of the half came just minutes later as Leighton fed Reeves down the right-hand channel, Elliott breezed past the fullback and cut into the box but his goal bound effort was well saved by Pajetet. The game was becoming more open, Haringey had a chance from a corner that Tupper saved well and Ramadan fizzed an effort over the bar from 30 yards before Pajetet set up a fast counter that lead to another shot on goal that Tupper was able to collect.

The telling moment of the first half came as the board went up to indicate 2 minutes of additional time, Haringey worked the ball forward down the left and Akinola cut into the box, his shot was destined to be saved by Tupper but a wicked deflection took the ball past the keeper and into the corner of the goal, 1-0 Haringey.

The second half started with a good chance from a corner for Rowe before the ‘Gate upped the pressure and created a number of half chances: on 56 minutes Ramadan and Abnett combined well on the right and almost created a shooting chance for Stewart, then on 61 minutes Ramadan went even closer to scoring with a curling effort from inside the box – but Pajetet made a great diving save, Jay then made two substitutes replacing Ramadan and Leighton with Sessegnon and Oyenuga.

In the 69th minutes Haringey were unlucky not to be 2-0 up as a direct freekick beat Tupper and came back off the post. ‘Boro were enjoying a good spell of possession but the ‘Gate looked dangerous on the counter, both Richards and Oyenuga drew saves from Pajetet as we looked for that equalising goal. That goal came in the 81st minute as a scramble in the box presented Jack Richards the ball, Pajetet was down and Richards curled the ball into the far corner however the ball was hooked clear by a covering defender from well inside the goal line – against every players protests the referee didn’t give the ‘goal’ and the game remained 1-0. 

One positive for Margate was the return of skipper Ben Swift who came on for the last 7 minutes but despite his and the team’s best efforts we couldn’t find that equalising goal and after 4 minutes of injury time the game was over and we returned to Kent empty handed.

Margate: Tupper, Abnett (Swift 85), Porter, Prestedge ©, Johnson, Essuman, Ramadan (Sessegnon 63), Stewart, Reeves, Leighton (Oyenuga 63), Richards

Subs: Holloway, Hatfull

Attention now turns to Saturday’s FA Cup 4th Rd Qualifying game away to Oxford City, we hope you can join us there and get behind Jay and the players as we continue our FA Cup adventure.

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