2022/23 Season Review - Part One

Written by David Hansen

Margate were looking to build on an impressive 8th place finish last season in the Isthmian Premier Division. With Jay Saunders leaving the club for Tonbridge Angels at the end of last season, Andy Drury stepped into his shoes and took the reins.

All games are Isthmian Premier League fixtures unless otherwise stated*

August

W1 D2 L2

Margate FC 1 – 1 Kingstonian FC (Greenhalgh 90’ PEN)

Bowers & Pitsea 0 – 2 Margate FC (Smith 7’, Deslandes 90’)

Brightlingsea Regent 2 – 1 Margate FC (Hudson 77’)

Margate FC 1 – 1 Horsham FC (Rogers 60’)

Cray Wanderers 1 – 0 Margate FC

The ‘Gate only recorded one victory to start the season with the points coming away from home at Bowers & Pitsea. Goals from Harvey Smith and Montrell Deslandes gave Margate their opening goals from open play of the campaign at the Len Salmon stadium. Margate were then on the wrong side of a couple of close games with defeats of 1-0 and 2-1 against Cray Wanderers and Brightlingsea Regent respectively. Another couple of draws completed a rather underwhelming start to a campaign. They would look to improve on results heading into September where they could turn their attentions to the prestigious FA Cup and the idea of reaching the coveted 1st round.

September

W3 L2

Aylesbury FC 0 – 1 Margate FC (Smith 70’) - FA Cup

Margate FC 4 – 0 Herne Bay FC (Brodie 3’ 11’, Greenhalgh 22’, 28’)

Dulwich Hamlet FC 2 – 1 Margate FC (Smith 52’) – FA Cup

Margate FC 2 – 5 Enfield Town FC (Brodie 22’, Hudson 47’)

Faversham Town 0 – 5 Margate FC (Henry 32’, 45’, 46’, Dsane 53’, 67’) - KSC

The ‘Gate were able to put aside their league woes and turn their attentions to the FA cup where they travelled to Aylesbury FC, and in a tight affair, they came away with a 1-0 win with Harvey Smith continuing his good start to the season to set up a blockbuster tie against National League South outfit Dulwich Hamlet. The Blues gave it their best go but ultimately on the wrong side of a score line which reflects Margate’s best efforts, a late strike for Dulwich Striker Danny Mills sealed Dulwich’s place in the next round of the competition, leaving Margate to forget about their dream of reaching the first round proper. Returning to league action after the victory at Aylesbury, the ‘Gate picked up their first home win in front of a jubilant crowd at Hartsdown Park in a runaway 4-0 drubbing of newly promoted side Herne Bay FC with goals coming from Cameron Brodie x2 and Ben Greenhalgh x2 to give the ‘Gate a huge win and lift of confidence.

However, the league fixtures for September ended on a rather sour note as Margate were taken apart at home by Enfield Town 2-5, who were bidding for the league title after narrowly missing out on promotion last season. Margate would go in search of a bounce-back result travelling to Faversham Town to start their journey in the Kent Senior Cup. New boys Eddie Dsane and Korrey Henry starred as Margate put on a five-star display at the Aquatherm Stadium.

October

W2 D1 L6

Aveley FC 3 – 1 Margate FC (Brodie 45’)

Margate FC 3 – 3 Haringey Borough (Greenhalgh 16’, Henry 73’, Brodie 90’)

Billericay Town FC 2 – 0 Margate FC – Isuzu FA Trophy

Corinthian Casuals 0 – 1 Margate FC (Greenhalgh 51’)

Margate FC 2 – 0 Canvey Island FC (Henry 67’, Greenhalgh 81’)

Lewes FC 2 – 0 Margate FC

Margate FC 1 – 3 AFC Hornchurch (Greenhalgh 53’)

Carshalton Athletic 1 – 0 Margate FC

October began with back-to-back games in which Margate shipped three goals against Aveley and Haringey Borough. Margate couldn’t change their form in the FA trophy as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the New Lodge leaving the chance of any large domestic trophy this season at an impasse. Fortunes did change back in the Isthmian Premier Division as the ‘Gate defeated Corinthian-Casuals in a tight battle in which a Ben Greenhalgh penalty would be decisive and earn the Blues an important victory. Margate carried the momentum from their game against the Casuals, by picking up another three points with a comfortable 2-0 win against promoted side Canvey Island at Hartsdown Park. However, Margate couldn’t continue their run as three consecutive league defeats put a dampener and undid the good work earlier in the month.

November

W5 D1

Margate FC 2 – 0 Bognor Regis Town (Cole 25’ Nzala 36’)

Chichester City 0 – 1 Margate FC (Deslandes 76’) - Isthmian League Cup (Velocity Trophy*)

Wingate & Finchley 1 – 2 Margate FC (Hudson 43’, 90’)

Margate 3 – 0 Sheppey United (Ojemen 44’, Greenhalgh 53’, 68’) - KSC

Margate FC 1 – 0 Folkestone Invicta (Bessey-Saldanha 25’) - Isthmian League Cup (Velocity Trophy*)

Bishops Stortford 2 – 2 Margate FC (Brodie 46’, Henry 84’)

November was dubbed as ‘No Loss November’ as the ‘Gate ended the month unbeaten. The month started with a 2-0 home win against Bognor Regis giving Margate a crucial three points. Just a short three days’ later attention shifted to the Velocity Trophy where Margate were successful in a tight 1-0 win against Chichester City. This gave the ‘Gate a tie in the next round against fellow Isthmian Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta. Returning to league action, a huge 2-1 win away against Wingate & Finchley continued the positive momentum.

Another fixture in the Kent Senior Cup was up next where Margate breezed through against Sheppey United beating them comfortably 3-0 and sealing their place in the Quarter-Finals. Folkestone travelled to Hartsdown Park for a Kent Derby in the Velocity Trophy where a strike from James Bessey-Saldanha gave the game its only goal and very much satisfied supporters in attendance putting the ‘Gate through to the next round where a game against Whitehawk awaited. Finishing off November with a spirited 2-2 draw away from home against Bishop’s Stotford would see out an impressive month for Margate.

December

D1 L2

Margate FC 0 – 0 Billericay Town

Margate FC 1 – 2 Hastings United (Blackman 38’)

Margate FC 0 – 3 Cray Wanderers

The ‘Gate only managed to pick up a single point in these three games in December with Sam Blackman being the only player to find the net for Margate. This resulted in a stalemate against Billericay Town and a three-nil drubbing at the hands of Cray Wanderers which ultimately sealed the fate for Andy Drury who departed the club following the defeat on boxing day.

Mid-season review

Due to a poor start to the season, Margate were left marooned to the lower end of the Isthmian Premier League, a long way off what their hopes were at the beginning of the season, the decision was made to relieve manager Andy Drury of his duties and position as Head Coach. Former ‘Gate player and coach Reece Prestedge took up the role of Interim manager and Club Captain Ben Greenhalgh became Assistant-Player Manager.

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