Blues Miss Out On Points At Home

By Tommy Park

On Saturday 20th November The Blues hosted Bognor Regis Town in the Isthmian League Premier division in a much anticipated match up between two sides that are very close in the league.

Margate had made a few changes to the team sheet since their defeat in the FA Trophy at the hands of Needham Market. New signing Ben Bridle-card made his debut in goal.

From kick off both teams were fighting for control of possession and both teams were clearly set up to attack this game. The first chance came from the hosts when Martial Godo ran down the wing and crossed it into Harrison Hatfull who got his head to the ball but his shot was deflected out for a corner.

Despite The Blues coming close to scoring, the first goal came from the visitors. A corner crossed in then Bognor Regis striker Craig Robson ran onto the cross losing his marker in the process and heading it past the keeper.

Margate 0-1 Bognor Regis

The Blues were straight back into the game and clearly weren't prepared to let the visitors early goal set them back. Margate were straight on the offensive with Vance Bola causing trouble for the visitors as he attacked down the line and cut in and out past defenders, he managed to get a shot away but the visiting keeper got down to the ball well and made the save.

Bola continued to cause trouble for the visitors in the first half with multiple close chances, notably in the 37th minute when he spun past his defender after receiving a long ball but his shot was deflected just past the post.

The visitors were ahead going into halftime with the score Margate 0-1 Bognor Regis.

Margate came straight out in the second half immediately trying to assert some dominance in the midfield and carve their way to the opposing goal. Disaster struck however in the 50th minute when the visitors doubled their lead, with a powerful shot that beat Ben Bridle-card.

Margate 0-2 Bognor Regis

Margate clearly frustrated, were all out attacking, with chance after chance The Blues were dominating the second half whilst the visitors held on managing to repel the Margate onslaught. The Blues had multiple close chances, in particular Martial Godo who ran through on goal twice in the same minute but to the shock of all in attendance he was flagged offside both times.

Margate were rewarded for their efforts when Godo won a freekick on the edge of the box. Greenhalgh stepped up and crossed it into the path of Sam Blackman who headed it past the keeper.

Margate 1-2 Bognor Regis

The Blues had dominated the game in the second half and finally got that first goal but it wasn't over and they still needed another to get back into the game.

The Blues came agonisingly close in the 78th minute when new signing Calvin Ekpiteta who came off the bench nearly brought Margate level. Greenhalgh had the ball on the right wing and he cut back and forth and after gaining a yard crossed the ball to Ekpiteta who just glanced it over.

Despite their efforts The Blues were unable to get themselves back on level pegging and ultimately missed out on the points. Margate bounced right back and showed real promise on the attack but couldn't quite get that goal.

The match ended, Margate 1-2 Bognor Regis.

Margate XI: Ben Bridle-Card, Crossley Lema, Joe Anderson, Montel Agyemang, Lewis Knight, Ben Swift, Martial Godo, Sam Blackman, Vance Bola, Harrison Hatfull, Ben Greenhalgh.

Subs: Dan Colmer, Bivesh Gurung, Ryan Palmer, Dan Thompson, Calvin Ekpiteta. Goalscorer: Sam Blackman

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