Margate Draw With Dartford Under The Lights

By Josh Cole

Margate and Dartford played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Hartsdown Park under the lights.

It was a dream start for the visitors, as within two minutes, Ben Allen’s initial shot from a cross was saved but he tapped in the rebound.

It wouldn’t take long for Margate to respond as in the 9th minute, a beautiful sweeping move saw Greenhalgh play a long ball searching for Ababio, who was taken out, but the ball fell to JBS, and he calmly put the ball into the back of the net!

The ‘Gate would continue to dominate the rest of the first half, but no clear-cut chances would come.

The blistering pace of Ababio and the flair of Greenhalgh continued to hurt Dartford in wide areas.

Half time would come, and the second half would begin in the same way, both teams getting into good areas but lacking that cutting-edge final ball.

And then in the 68th minute, player/manager Ben Greenhalgh lined up a free kick.

In perfect range, and typical Ben, he curled it towards the near post.

It would take a wicked deflection of the wall and the ball was redirected over the Dartford ‘keeper and into the net!

Two minutes later, he would have the same opportunity, from the same place, this time he clipped the ball into the box, but Lukas Franzen-Jones glanced his header straight at the goalie.

As we approached the last ten minutes, an inch-perfect Rutherford corner found the head of Tyrone Sterling but he would head wide.

Then, in the 86th minute, a cross from the Dartford left hand side found number 20 at the back post and he smashed it past Hobbs in goal to salvage a draw away from home.

On face value, a late goal looks bad but the atmosphere around the dressing room and within the team remains positive as we embark on our away section of pre-season!

Margate XI: Reece Hobbs, Harrison Hatfull (Trialist B 70’), Trialist A, Harvey Brand, Harry Hudson, Jordon Ababio (Lukas Franzen-Jones 45’), Ibrahim Olutade (Vinnie Bowman 70’), Ben Greenhalgh (Trialist C 70’), Brandon Davey (Fyn Rutherford 70’), Lewis Knight (Tyrone Sterling 45’), James Bessey Saldanha.

Goalscorers: James Bessey-Saldanha 9’ and Ben Greenhalgh 68’.

Margate Media Player Of The Match: James Bessey-Saldanha

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