'Gate Defeat Bowers At HDP

Margate bounced back from their Velocity Trophy Final defeat, as they overcome Bowers & Pitsea 3-2 at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Jay Saunders decision to bring Benas Vaivada back into the startling eleven was justified within the opening three minutes as James Bessey Saldanha took advantage of some poor Bowers & Pitsea defending, to run clear and cross the ball for Vaivada who slotted the ‘Gate into an early lead.

The visitors weren’t behind for long though as Mitchell Gilbey unleashed an incredible strike to beat Ben Bridle-Card, to level the scores at 1-1 in the 18th minute.

Gilbey almost put the visitors ahead moments later as he saw his volleyed effort well held by Bridle-Card, as the Blues looked to avoid falling behind in the glorious spring sunshine.

Not to be outdone on his 30th birthday, Ben Greenhalgh unleashed his own incredible effort from 25 yards as Margate restored the lead in the 32nd minute.

The response from the visitors once again was almost immediately as Bridle-Card made a good save from one effort, before Alex Bentley curled the follow up inches wide.

The Blues effectively put the game to bed in the 64th minute as again the visitors failed to clear their lines, allowing Bessey-Saldanha to get in on the goalscoring act, and give the Blues a 3-1 advantage.

They weren’t to have it all their own way though and there was a tense final 12 minutes on the cards for the Blues as Michael Ademiluyi latched onto a Bridle-Card block to poke home and reduce the arrears to just one.

Margate saw out the final 12 minutes, despite some half chances for the visitors. The win moves them up to 8th in the Isthmian Premier Division with two games remaining.

MARGATE: Bridle-Card, Lema, Anderson (Hatfull 62’), Agyemang, Knight, Swift, Bessey-Saldanha (Soyemi-Olalade 79’), Odaudu, Feyi (Bola 70’), Greenhalgh, Vaivada

Subs not used: Colmer, Rutherford

Margate Goalscorers

Benas Vaivada 3’

Ben Greenhalgh 32’

James Bessey-Saldanha 64’

Margate Man of the Match

Benas Vaivada

Attendance

372

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