'Gate Beat Dover In PSF

Margate continued their fine start to pre-season as they overcame National League South side Dover Athletic, on a boiling hot day at Hartsdown Park.

An earlier kick-off at 1pm still not allow any relief as temperatures soared off the pitch, whilst on it, the Blues turned up the heat as they continued their preparations for their Isthmian Premier Division opener against Kingstonian on Saturday 13th August.

It was the hosts that started the game much brighter as Ben Greenhalgh, playing just behind #9 trialist was pulling the strings as the ‘Gate went in search of an early goal. Andy Drury’s sides first real chance came in the 21st minute as a dinked ball over the top from Greenhalgh fell to the trialist, whose shot was well saved by Stuart Nelson in the visitor’s goal.

Dover created their first chance just after the 30-minute mark as Luke Baptiste curled a shot goalwards which was well saved by Ben Bridle-Card in the ‘Gate goal.

Half-time came as a welcome relief for both sides as temperatures continue to soar, but it was the hosts who again started the brightest as the pace of Troy Howard allowed him to set up James Bessey-Saldanha, who saw his fierce shot well blocked.

It took Margate just nine minutes of the second half to take the lead, and when it arrived it was a peach of a goal. It started with the ball being sprayed out wide to Howard who once again showed some incredible pace to beat his defender before firing his low effort into the opposite corner to give the Blues a deserved 1-0 lead.

Three minutes later and Margate doubled their advantage with another fantastic team goal. Ben Greenhalgh again showing his skill in the middle of the park by playing some short interchanges with the striker trialist, with eventually the ‘Gate skipper threading a through ball to release the trialists to calmly slot home and make it 2-0 after 57 minutes.

With the temperature increasing to rise, apart from some fierce challenges and a mazy run from Taylor Fisher that ended with him firing over, the game ran down with substitutions and a slower pace as Margate made it three from three in pre-season so far.

The ‘Gate are back in action on Wednesday night as they welcome a Fulham Xl side to Hartsdown Park with kick-off at 7:30pm.

Tickets for this game can be purchased by clicking here.

Margate Xl: Bridle Card, Trialist, Fisher, Topley, Knight, Ojemen, Blackman, Howard, Bessey-Saldanha, Greenhalgh, Trialist

Subs: Kallmeier, Hudson, Cole, Oliver, Nketiah

Margate Goalscorer’s

Howard 54’

Trialist 57’

Margate Man of the Match

Troy Howard

Attendance

321

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