By Josh Cole
Just two weeks on from our defeat away against Sittingbourne we face them tomorrow on home soil looking to win this time around!
Last time out we put four past Eastbourne Town to win away from home! Read the match report from that game by clicking here.
View how that last result changed the league table by clicking here.
SITTINGBOURNE – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
Sittingbourne are still in second on 77 points from 30 games. The Brickies trail first placed Ramsgate by ten points, but they have two games in hand. They started with two wins, a 5-0 on the league opener against Broadbridge Heath and a 2-4 away win against Farnham Town in the FA Cup preliminary round. A defeat however in their second league game came away at Ramsgate as they lost 4-2.
They bounced back to beat Ashford next, then required a replay but managed to beat Dover Athletic in the FA Cup first qualifying round. Also in the FA Trophy first qualifying round, Sittingbourne beat Sutton Common Rovers, 2-0. Another three points in the league came at home to Phoenix Sports and then another win in the FA Cup came against Lordswood. They did lose in the Velocity Cup second round, crashing out 4-1 at the hands of Erith Town.
In the FA Trophy they cruised past Kingstonian, winning 4-1 but another heavy cup defeat came next, this time in the Kent Senior Cup as they bowed out to Deal, losing 6-1. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 0-3 to Plymouth Parkway.
But miraculously, that would be their last defeat, and it was on the 28th of September, so for a whole three months, they are unbeaten. This run has included 16 league wins and three league draws.
Probably the more impressive run has been in the FA Trophy. As a step four team in non-league, they have made it through to the fifth round of the FA Trophy, causing upset after upset and playing some beautiful football. Probably their most notorious win in this competition came against Salisbury when they beat the National League South opponents 2-1 at home.
After that game they won three more times in the league and then won a historical match for their club, beating Southend away 0-1 to progress into the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, a great feat. They came into the game against us after a win and two draws and they managed to beat The ‘Gate 3-0. The quarter-finals of the FA Trophy saw The Brickies historic run ended after they lost 0-3 to Aldershot.
LAST FIVE: MARGATE
3-0 Win vs Lancing, home (League)
1-0 Loss vs AFC Croydon, away (League)
3-0 Loss vs Sittingbourne, away (League)
3-2 Win vs Sheppey United, home (League)
2-4 Win vs Eastbourne Town, away (League)
LAST FIVE: SITTINGBOURNE
1-1 Draw vs Erith Town, away (League)
1-2 Win vs Steyning Town Community, away (League)
0-0 Draw vs Beckenham Town, home (League)
3-0 Win vs Margate, home (League)
0-3 Loss vs Aldershot, home (FA Trophy Quarter-Final)
STATS COMPARISON IN ALL COMPS:
MARGATE
Matches played: 44
Goals scored: 87
Goals conceded: 47
GD: +40
Clean sheets: 16
SITTINGBOURNE
Matches played: 46
Goals scored: 120
Goals conceded: 48
GD: +72
Clean sheets: 19
IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE…
Margate were defeated 3-0 by title challengers Sittingbourne on a glum Tuesday evening for The ‘Gate.
The Blues were behind within the opening six minutes as former Margate winger Troy Howard sent the hosts on their way.
Despite only trailing by one goal, the Blues struggled against a side that have only dropped two points at home all season, and it was 2-0 before the break as Donvieve Jones doubled the hosts’ advantage.
Whilst trying to get themselves back into the game, Margate conceded a third in the 90th minute as Harry Sinai ensured the hosts would stay on the tails of Ramsgate, whilst Margate would remain in 4th.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (all data comes from the Margate History Website)
Games played: 114
Margate: 53 wins
Draws: 19
Sittingbourne: 42 wins
Our history with Sittingbourne dates all the way back to the first meeting in 1914 with 113 games being played from 1914-2012 before the last meeting, which came just two weeks ago, with Sittingbourne winning that matchup.
MATCH OFFCIALS:
Referee: Steven Goldup
Assistants: Ayden Gillespie & Mark Roberts
UP THE ‘GATE
