Margate defeated at HDP| 15.01.22

The Blues defeated at HDP| 15.01.22

Match report

On Saturday Margate were back at home to host Hornchurch in an Isthmian League Premier Division match.

From kick off the game was end to end and initially neither side could gain the edge. The visitors had the first close chance just four minutes in when they caught Margate out on the counter attack. The ball was knocked up the pitch and ultimately fell to Ola Ogunwamide who cut inside onto his left foot and struck the ball. His shot was deflected and Ben Bridle-Card was there to collect.

Both sides continued to push as they tried to gain a foothold and create a serious attack. The Blues had the next close chance in the 11th minute when Ben Greenhalgh stepped up to take a corner. Greenhalgh curled it towards the back post, Ben Swift rose from the crowd but just placed his header wide of the post.

Although both sides were battling back and forth the hosts were creating more chances in the first half as they managed to get into the final third a little more. In the 20th minute The Blues had another close chance when Vance Bola took the ball down the left wing, past the defender and crossed it to the edge of the box. Greenhalgh was running in and the ball fell into his stride but he just lifted his shot over the bar.

Hornchurch came very close to getting ahead right before the half time whistle as they broke on the counter for one last attack. The ball was slotted through the edge of Margate's box and a shot from just inside the box looked as though it had beaten Bridle-Card. At the last second he made a diving save just poking the shot wide for a corner.

The match was turning into a fiery contest between these two sides so close in the league. In the first half we saw three yellow cards two of which were for The Blues. Going into half time the game was heating up and the sides were still level at 0-0.

The second half kicked off and the visitors were playing with more intensity holding the ball well. Despite the visitors' renewed intensity The Blues had the first close chance of the second half, after catching Hornchurch on the counter and winning a free kick on the edge of the box. Right on the edge of the box the free kick was shooting territory for Greenhalgh but this time he opted to cross it to the back post. The Hornchurch keeper rushed out at the last second and punched it away just as it looked like Swift was going to win the header.

In the 58th minute Hornchurch scored the first goal of the match after capitalising on a free kick on the edge of Margate's box. The ball was crossed in and in the ensuing scramble the ball dropped to Nathan Bertram-Cooper who smashed it into the net.

Margate 0-1 Hornchurch.

Hornchurch were beginning to take control of the game and after multiple close chances they doubled their lead in the 76th minute. Remi Sutton created the attack when he came onto the ball and knocked it forwards with his first touch. He chased the ball to the byline and crossed it to the back post where Charlie Ruff was arriving to head it past Bridle-Card.

Margate 0-2 Hornchurch.

The Blues were struggling to get back into the game as the visitors kept up intense pressure. In the 80th minute Hornchurch scored a third goal effectively confirming their victory and securing the three points. The goal came from a corner when the ball was crossed into the back post where Tobi Joseph jumped out of the crowd and headed it past the keeper.

Margate 0-3 Hornchurch.

The Blues were unable to get a goal back despite some promising counter attacks. The visitors controlled the majority of the second half and stayed ahead until the final whistle.

Final score Margate 0-3 Hornchurch.

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

Subs: Harrison Hatfull, Fyn Rutherford, Jack Richards, Benas Vaivada, Dan Thompson.

Attendance: 567

By Tommy Park

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