Match Report | Worthing 14.12.21

Emphatic victory for The Blues at Hartsdown Park|14.12.21

Match report

On Tuesday The Blues hosted Worthing at Hartsdown park for a night under the lights in their Isthmian League Premier Division match.

Margate had some tough matches leading to Tuesday night's game, they were having a hard time coming away with points and were eager to put on a display at home and put up a fight against the league leaders.

The Blues were on the attack right from the whistle, with a slight change in the line up utilising James Bessey-Saldanha up top hoping his pace could irritate the Worthing Defenders. This change almost had an effect right away as The Blues were pressing high and chasing down the ball in the Worthing defensive third. Bessey-Saldanha stole the ball and slotted it through to Ben Greenhalgh whose shot was just collected by the Worthing Keeper.

Once again The Blues were rewarded early on for their efforts with a goal in the 4th minute from Vance Bola. Martial Godo created the chance after he collected the ball down the left wing and cut in and out past the defender and crossed the ball into the six yard box where Bola awaited to head it home.

Margate 1-0 Worthing

Margate kept up the pressure knowing that a one goal lead on the league leaders could disappear in a moment. So they kept on the pressure doing their best to keep Worthing from turning the game around.

Margate came inches away from their second goal in the 13th minute when Greenhalgh Swung a corner into the far post, Ben Swift just got his head to it but couldn't get enough on it. Lewis Knight helped the ball along to Sam Blackman whose shot was cleared right off the line.

20 minutes in Margate doubled their lead with a goal from Montel Agyemang. Bola nearly scored the second goal himself when he collected the ball in the middle of the pitch and moved towards the Worthing goal, noticing the goalie off his line he took a shot but the keeper scrambled back and pushed the shot out for a corner. From the resulting Greenhalgh corner the ball fell to the middle of the six yard box Where Agyemang was waiting to slot the ball away.

Margate 2-0 Worthing

The visitors came close to dampening the mood at Hartsdown Park when they caught Margate out on the counter, running through on goal in what was effectively a two on one, Kealey received the ball from his teammate and blasted it over the bar. It looked like a sure thing but The Blues escaped that attack unscaved.

Margate would not let up, keeping the pressure on Worthing. Despite the visitors controlling the ball with great efficiency and keeping possession, The Blues were tenacious in their closing down and pressure and just waited for a Worthing mistake to pounce on.

In the added time of the first half the visitors came close to scoring their first and getting themselves back into the game. Pearce stepped up for a freekick right on the edge of the 18 yard box and to the right side. A perfect freekick curling directly into the top corner, looked like a goal. Ben Bridle-Card was having none of it as he pounced across from the other side of the goal and with his fingers tipped the ball out for a corner. What a freekick and what a save.

Going into halftime Margate were leading the game 2-0.

Into the second half Margate were pushing even harder for another goal, they knew they had to keep it up and stay ahead. Margate could not afford to let up, not against the league leaders, both sides needed these points.

Margate struck again in the 54th minute with a textbook display of how to counter attack. The visitors looked dangerous on the attack but couldn't get the ball into the box, with the ball at the feet of their right winger, Godo stole the ball away and Margate were gone. Godo knocked the ball down the line to Bessey-Saldanha who channeled his inner Messi as two players were attempting to take the ball but he cut left then right and left again breaking down the line and crossing the ball. Bola had run the length of the pitch to get into the box, he took the ball down and kept his cool as he slotted it away.

Margate 3-0 Worthing.

The visitors were still holding the ball well and were starting to better utilise their possession to cause problems for Margate. In the 63rd minute Worthing capitalised on their possession after winning a corner. The corner was whipped in and right into the mixer where Oliver Pearce managed to get his head onto it and poke into the net.

Margate 3-1 Worthing.

Margate continued to press and battle the visitors for possession, Worthing continued to control more of the possession but Margate were pressing high and forcing mistakes. Margate essentially secured the position in this match with a fourth goal in the 74th minute. Greenhalgh had taken two corners in quick succession and winning a third corner he stepped up again. This time he swings the ball in with so much curl that it bypases everyone and goes straight into the net. Geenhalgh scored directly from the corner to make the game Margate 4-1 Worthing.

Margate showed no complacency and continued to attack, nearly soring a 5th goal in the 86’ minute when Greenhalgh swung a corner into the far post and Bola ran onto the end of the cross volleying it across the goal but just wide of the post.

The game was all but over but neither team was slowing down and Margate would not let up until that whistle confirmed their victory. The visitors scored a second goal in the 2nd minute of extra time, completely out of nowhere. Joel Colbran knew the game was near when he picked up the ball about 45 yards out and noticed Bridle-Card was pretty far off his line. He decided to go for it and what a strike, he lobbed it over the keeper from considerable distance.

Margate 4-2 Worthing.

What a match under the lights on Tuesday night. Margate secured victory against league leaders Worthing and never took their foot off the gas.

Margate XI: Ben Bridle-Card, Crossley Lema, Joe Anderson, Montel Agyemang, Lewis Knight, Ben Swift, Martial Godo, Sam Blackman, James Bessey-Saldanha, Vance Bola, Ben Greenhalgh.

Subs: Dan Colmer, Reece Prestedge, Fyn Rutherford(89’), Ryan Palmer(74’), Calvin Ekpiteta.

Goalscorers: Vance Boa(4’)(54’) ,Montel Agyemang(22’), Ben Greenhalgh(74’).

Attendance : 424

By Tommy Park

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