Blues Continue Fine League Form

By Josh Cole

A brilliant display from The ‘Gate away from home saw us win 0-2 at East Grinstead!

We took the lead through Ibrahim Olutade in the 20th minute after Atkins slotted him through one-on-one and he finished it!

Then, Atkins doubled our lead in the 51st minute with a beautiful curling effort into the far corner!

Just 48 hours after our gruelling Boxing Day clash we travelled to Sussex in the freezing cold to play East Grinstead.

Margate were on the front foot straight away, causing The Wasps problems from the get-go and 16 minutes in the biggest chance came.

The ball fell to Max Walsh in the box, but he blazed over, a chance he would’ve wanted back.

Just four minutes later, we would go in front.

Ibz was sent through by Atkins and he slotted it past the ‘keeper to make it 0-1!

East Grinstead had a chance of their own which forced Reece Hobbs to scramble across his goal and claw it away.

Another huge chance for The ‘Gate came on the 28th minute when Tyrone Sterling’s long ball found Atkins in the box and he nodded it back to Walsh who was denied by the goalie.

More chances came and went and many ‘Gate fans couldn’t believe how this game was still 0-1, but it was and that’s the way the first half would stay.

Coming out for the second half, in the 49th minute, East Grinstead got away with one.

Olutade nicked the ball off the ‘keeper and with an empty goal staring at him, he rolled it in…

Only for the covering defender to clear it off the line.

But two minutes after, in the 51st minute, Atkins doubled our lead with a beauty!

He received the ball outside the box and curled one into the far corner with his right foot, a stunning goal!

Throughout the second half, The Blues dominated and kept creating loads of chances but somehow, the game stayed just 0-2.

As the fog came over the Vistavis Community Stadium, The ‘Gate were controlling proceedings.

It could’ve been 0-3 right at the death when Jordon Ababio’s cross found Ben Allen at the backpost but he headed wide.

A great team performance, and on a tricky pitch, played some of the best football we’ve seen all season, a great away win to carry into 2025!

Margate XI: 13. Reece Hobbs (GK), 2. Harrison Hatfull, 4. Max Walsh (Jack Peters 83’), 6. Harry Hudson ©, 8. Harvey Brand, 9. Ibrahim Olutade (Ben Allen 80’), 14. Brandon Davey (Jordon Ababio 73’), 15. Gabriel Duo, 16. Tyrone Sterling, 17. Kai Garande, and 18. Louie Atkins (Enoch Muwonge 83’).

Unused sub: Lewis Knight

MFC goalscorers: Ibrahim Olutade 20’ & Louie Atkins 51’

Margate Media Man of the Match: Gabriel Duo

Attendance: 210

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