Wingate & Finchley|18.12.21

Margate defeated at Hartsdown Park|18.12.21

Match report

On Saturday The Blues hosted Wingate & Finchley at Hartsdown Park for their 20th Isthmian League Premier Division match.

From kick off both sides were immediately trying to gain the upper hand in the midfield. The visitors were desperate for points and they showed this in their tenacity in the middle of the pitch, fighting for every yard and every ball. At the same time despite being plagued by injuries and illness, the Margate side were determined to fight for all of the points available in this match.

The start of the match was end to end but the visitors were breaking through with one or two more significant chances. Wingate came close in the 11th minute after winning a free kick on the edge of the box. Liam Smyth stepped up and curled his shot over the wall but Dan Colmer was able to collect the ball.

The visitors took the lead 22 minutes into the first half. The goal was scored by Dylan Kearney who ran into the box to follow his teammates' long range strike. Colmer got down to the initial strike but the ball bounced back to the six yard box when Kearney was there to finish it off. As if out of nowhere the visitors were ahead.

Margate 0-1 Wingate & Finchley.

Before half time the visitors had a few close chances, one chance coming from Kearney in the 38th minute as he waited on the edge of the box for a corner. The ball was knocked all over the box but ultimately fell to Kearney on the edge but he sliced his shot wide.

Margate were still battling it out in the middle of the pitch trying to gain control of the game and create an attack. The Blues had a close chance right before the half time whistle. Vance Bola picked up the ball on the left and cut into the box beating the defenders with pace but he couldn't quite get around the ball enough and his shot was safely caught by Ben Goode.

Wingate were ahead at half time with the score, Margate 0-1 Wingate.

At the start of the second half Margate were starting to take control of the game, utilising their pace on the counter attack. Margate came close to equalising just two minutes into the second half with a chance from Martial Godo. After he picked the ball up on the left wing Godo cut in past his marker onto his preferred right foot but his powerful strike just fizzed past the top corner.

Still pushing on, The Blues won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 52nd minute and Greenhalgh stepped up to take it. Greenhalghs freekick curled over the wall and the keeper did not move an inch but the shot just passed by the post centimetres from equalising for Margate. So close and yet the score remained Margate 0-1 Wingate.

Margate were fighting on every inch of the pitch to try and get something out of the game but the visitors were doing just enough to hold The Blues off. Wingate almost doubled their lead after a momentary lapse of focus from Margate. As The Blues were passing the ball between themselves attempting to clear it, Liam Smyth stole the ball in the box but luckily for Margate he lashed his shot over the bar.

In the dying minutes of the match The Blues were hassling the visitors relentlessly, trying everything to get that goal. The best chance came from Bola after Greenhalghs corner was cleared but only to Bola's feet. After losing his marker he noticed the keeper was off his line as a result of the scramble in the box from the corner. Bola attempted to smash it past the keeper but Goode Sprung out of the crowd and tipped the ball out for a corner.

Wingate looked as though they had scored their second goal after a scramble in the Margate box in the 90th minute. The referee discussed the goal with the linesman and ruled that it was offside. With no time left for Margate to come back, the game ended Margate 0-1 Wingate & Finchley.

Margate XI: Dan Colmer, Ryan Palmer, Joe Anderson, Montel Agyemang, Alex Johnson, Ben Swift(c), Martial Godo, Sam Blackman, James Bessey-Saldanha, Vance Bola, Ben Greenhalgh.

Subs: Owen Kallmeier, Harrison Hatfull(61’), Fyn Rutherford, Jack Richards(86'), Veron Nzinga.

Attendance: 400.

By Tommy Park

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