Season Review - October Edition

By Ryan Day

With injuries mounting and a frustrating end to the month of September, the Blues entered the month of October in desperate need of some wins under their belts if they were to keep pace with the top five of the Bostik Premier League.

A Monday night visit to Carshalton Athletic on the 1st of the month provided that crucial three points as a last gasp winner from Joe Taylor after a Frannie Collin effort sealed Margate a much needed three points at Colston Avenue.

The following Saturday saw Margate welcome struggling Harlow Town to Hartsdown Park where the Blues had failed to ignite any sort of form so far. The chance to face a side struggling at the wrong end of the table should have been a welcome opportunity for the ‘Gate to earn themselves three points at home, however some resolute defending from the away side saw a drab 0-0 draw played out in miserable weather conditions in front of 399 supporters.

Margate supporters were becoming frustrated at their home form which had still only seen one home league win so far at the visit of Enfield Town who were in the top five at the time suggested that the poor home form wouldn’t be getting better anytime soon, especially after renowned striker Billy Bricknell put the visitors ahead early on in front of another bumper crowd at Hartsdown Park. 

Margate drew level shortly after though through Joe Taylor’s penalty and eventually turned the game on its head as Taylor again struck to give Margate another three points and keep their unbeaten run in October going to three games, finally sending the majority of the 658 crowd home happy.

With momentum building, Margate remained unbeaten in October a week later as they held Bognor Regis to a 0-0 draw at Nyewood Lane in what was another superb defensive performance as the Gate got ready to welcome Potters Bar Town to Hartsdown Park the following week in the Buildbase FA Trophy.

A crowd of just 154 saw Margate exit the FA Trophy at the first hurdle as they were humbled 2-1 by Potters Bar Town at Hartsdown Park. A Joe Taylor strike was not enough as Margate were left to rue missed chances as another competition exit arrived sooner than they would have hoped.

Despite the disappointing defeat to Potters Bar Town in the Buildbase Trophy at the end of the month, in terms of league performance it was a relatively successful month having gone four games unbeaten in the league with two wins and two draws. 

Another positive for the Blues was the positive impact from Joe Taylor who had netted four times in five games that month combined with Frannie Collins solo goal of the month at Carshalton as the two looked set to form a deadly partnership.

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