'Gate Held By Bowers & Pitsea

Report by Jack Waters

Margate made one change from the heavy defeat at Horsham with Emmanuel Oke coming back in the team for Peter Ojemen, and were boosted with the positive news of Taylor Fisher coming back into the squad from a long-term injury.

The visitors started the game the better side, as they attacked straight from kick off, as the visitors had a corner, the ball ended up in the back of the net, but the referee blew up for a foul in the box.

The away side knocked on the door with another move down the left-hand side which was crossed by Carnegie as the ball was flicked on at the front post by Papadopoulos, Daniel Jinadu was beaten as Bowers made the Blues pay after a quick start and got themselves ahead in the fourth minute.

Bowers had several corners within the first ten minutes, which led to the next big chance of the game as Allen’s bullet header crashed off the crossbar, much relief to the majority home support.

Margate started to get themselves into the game more as Ben Greenhalgh’s corner found Phil Roberts who got his first goal for the Blues since joining the club with a thumping header. After the ‘Gate’s goal they had the bit between their teeth as Matty Macarthur went on a mazy run before cutting inside on his right foot and shooting just wide.

Four minutes later, the Blues threatened once again with Macarthur causing problems as he rounded the goalkeeper before cutting the ball back to Roberts who appeared to be bundled to the floor fouled, but the referee waived play on with the scores still level.

Heading into the half hour mark Margate looked like the side who was going to take the lead with several chances starting with Roberts firing a shot straight into the keeper’s arms before the forward forced the goalkeeper into making an incredible save to keep the scores all square at the break.

Margate started the second half as they ended the first, as Nathan Wood threatened Bowers defence but his shot went wide. Minutes later, Greenhalgh’s cross found Harry Hudson’s head, which was cushioned down for Sam Blackman, but the shot was scuffed in front of goal and the keeper gathered well.

On the hour mark Harrison Hatfull went on a driving run after a beautiful touch before cutting it back for Nathan Wood who saw his shot blocked before being hacked away as the visitors defence continued to stay strong.

In the final 15 minutes both sides found it difficult to break down each other’s defence but the final chance of the game fell to the visitors in injury time, as the cross from Addy found Cook in the box with plenty of space and Jinadu made an incredible save to deny Bowers nicking all three points as the points were shared.

Margate XI: Jinadu, Hatfull (Fisher 80’) Oke, Hudson, Cole, Blackman (Brodie 80’), Roberts, Greenhalgh, Barton, Macarthur (Bessey-Saldanha 75’), Wood

Subs not used: Ojemen, Sutcliffe

Margate Scorer

Phil Roberts 13’

Margate Man of the Match

Emmanuel Oke

Attendance:

266

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