'Gate Get Vital Win Away At Cheshunt

By Riley Finch

Super-sub Destiny Oladipo gave the ‘Gate a vital away win at Cheshunt to keep our survival hopes alive!

Just seven minutes from his substitution, Oladipo reacted quickest to nod the ball home after goalkeeper, Brian Okonkwo, was unable to keep hold of a looping ball into the box.

After scoring with just 20 minutes to go, Margate were keen to preserve their precious lead, sitting deep and crowding out the box to try and keep the home side at bay.

Ben Greenhalgh did come close to killing the game off after Okonkwo’s poor clearance was cut out by Mo Kamara. Greenhalgh volleyed the ball into what would be an empty net from around thirty yards out, but it trickled wide.

With no way through a resolute ‘Gate defence, all three points would join us on the road back home. Oladipo’s substitution marked a pivotal point in the game.

Up until that stage, the game was hanging on a knifes edge with both sides desperate not to concede the first goal.

The game was played like a chess match as both sides tried to mitigate horrid, wet conditions, and keep the score level for as long as they could. Harry Seaden made some crucial saves to do just that.

Sam Granville found himself free in the box, but his low driven shot was saved excellently by Seaden.

A dangerous ball was deflected by a Margate foot which steered the ball towards goal, but Seaden’s quick reflexes were enough to get a glove around ball.

Nathaniel Orafu and Taylor Miles would also drag efforts agonisingly wide of the post after shots from outside the box. Just as Cheshunt had their opportunities, we had ours.

After receiving Kamara’s incisive pass, Steve Cawley unleashed a looping effort from the edge of the box, only for it to rattle the crossbar.

Cawley would come close again, dragging a volley just wide after latching onto a ball over the top from the right of the penalty area.

After such a tense first-half, Mark Stimson moved his first piece on the board substituting Oladipo for Yaser Kasim and moving the formation from four in the midfield to three up top.

The change would end up being check mate for Cheshunt, with the score 1-0 we sat deep to defend and close the game out.

Tonight felt like a game we simply had to win, and the boys put on a heroic display to do just that.

Not much was able to separate the two sides over 90 minutes, but it was clear that one side just wanted it slightly more than the other.

Margate will take our last two results as a major boost as we look to continue to pick up points, starting with another tough away trip to Potters Bar Town this Saturday.

Margate XI: 1. Harry Seaden, 3. Toby Stevenson, 4. Yaser Kasim (Destiny Oladipo 60’), 6. Harry Hudson, 8. Sam Blackman © (Gabriel Duo 80’), 9. Steve Cawley, 11. Ben Greenhalgh, 12. Fyn Rutherford, 15. Mo Kamara, 19. Lewis Knight, 20. Teddy Perkins.

Unused subs: 2. Rio Davidson-Phipps, 13. Reece Hobbs, 14. Jeremiah Pinder.

Goalscorer: Destiny Oladipo (67’)

Attendance: 345

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