Gate Gain Three Points At Bowers

The ‘Gate returned to wining ways thanks to Prestedge’s first goal of the season on the stroke of halftime against a spirited Bowers & Pitsea side. 

Joe Tupper was fit and returned to the starting line-up and was called into action in the first minute as he pushed a Lee header round the post and out for a corner. The ‘Gate made a cautious and slightly sluggish start and our hosts had another chance on 5 minutes as Dicks saw his effort well saved by Tupper. Our first chances of note came in the 11th and 12th minutes; Elliott Reeves raced into the box and forced a shot just wide before creating space and crossing for Leighton to get his head to the ball but like Reeves put his effort just wide of the post.

As the game settled there were half chances for Warner at one end and Reeves at the other before a break in play saw Hafeez Sanusi replace George Essuman after the latter took a knock and was unable to continue. There was still time for Ramadan to set Reeves up for one last chance before half time, but his well struck shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half time as skipper Reece Prestedge collected the ball and fired a shot goalward from the edge of the area which was parried out by the keeper and as everyone else was caught ball watching Reece nipped in to collect the rebound and smash the ball home, 1-0 Margate!

The second half started with a half-volleyed chance for Richards before the hosts had another dangerous free kick; this time hit way over the bar from Warner. Cornhill went close with a long-range drive before our best chance to double the lead came and went in the 56th minute as a Jack Richards corner is fumbled and cleared off the line by a covering defender before Sanusi could poke home.

Dicks and Sanusi shared bookings in the 61st and 65th minutes before Cornhill created a couple of chances for himself but failed to trouble Tupper with either effort. Richards took aim from 22 yards and won a corner before Prestedge was booked in the final minute for a push in the middle of the park. Then after 7 minutes of additional time the game was ended, and we secured a much needed 3 points.

Margate: Tupper, Abnett, Porter, Prestedge ©, Johnson, Essuman (Sanusi 67’), Richards, Sessegnon, Reeves, Leighton, Ramadan

Subs: Kallmeier, Weston, Oyenuga, Hatfull

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