By Josh Cole
Our third home game in a row as we welcome Littlehampton to HDP for matchday #35 of the season!
Last time out we were held to a draw against Broadbridge Heath. Read the match report from that game by clicking here.
Have a look at how the league table has changed after those matches, click here to view.
If you haven’t already, you can pick up your tickets for this match by clicking here.
LITTLEHAMPTON – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
The Marigolds are currently in 18th, only outside of the relegation places on goal difference. They started this season in the FA Cup extra preliminary round, beating Tooting & Mitcham, 1-0. They then lost back-to-back home games 2-3 to Herne Bay in the league and Faversham in the FA Cup preliminary round, which was followed by a penalty win in the FA Trophy preliminary round against Rayners Lane.
Into the FA Trophy first qualifying round, Littlehampton beat Sporting Bengal 3-2, but in their next league match, lost 1-4 to Steyning Town. A win and a draw in their next two league matches came before another penalty win in the FA Trophy, against Burgess Hill. Two more league games came and went, without a win, losing to Merstham but drawing to Lancing. Their run in the FA Trophy came to a halt in the third qualifying round, losing 0-1 to Barton Rovers.
More cup success for The Golds as they progressed into the third round of the Sussex County Cup. For the rest of October, and November, Littlehampton had nothing but league games, and their record through this period was three wins, three draws and five losses.
Littlehampton continued to struggle a lot in December, going winless in that month in the league with one draw and four losses, but managed to get a win on penalties in the Sussex County Cup third round. On New Years Day they lost to Lancing but just six days later got their revenge with a 2-1 home win in the Sussex County Cup quarter-final.
Ultimately though, they continued to struggle in the league as in the run into this match at Hartsdown Park they have had ten games from that win against Lancing in the Cup, and in those eleven games they have won three, drawn one and lost six. All three wins came in February, which proved to be a very good month for Littlehampton as they won three out of their four games in Feb. Also during this run they managed to book their place in the Sussex County Cup Final with a semi-final victory over Eastbourne Borough.
LAST FIVE: MARGATE
3-0 Loss vs Sittingbourne, away (League)
3-2 Win vs Sheppey United, home (League)
2-4 Win vs Eastbourne Town, away (League)
0-3 Loss vs Sittingbourne, home (League)
1-1 Draw vs Broadbridge Heath, home (League)
LAST FIVE: LITTLEHAMPTON
5-0 Win vs Hythe Town, home (League)
1-2 Loss vs Beckenham Town, home (League)
2-1 Win vs Eastbourne Borough, home (Sussex County Cup Semi-Final)
0-4 Loss vs Sevenoaks Town, home (League)
3-1 Loss vs Sittingbourne, away (League)
STATS COMPARISON IN ALL COMPS:
MARGATE
Matches played: 46
Goals scored: 88
Goals conceded: 51
GD: +37
Clean sheets: 16
LITTLEHAMPTON
Matches played: 43
Goals scored: 70
Goals conceded: 87
GD: -17
Clean sheets: 7
IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE…
On Saturday the 14th of December Margate made the trip to Littlehampton in search of three points… And that is what they got! A first half penalty was converted by Ibrahim Olutade and it took until the 76th minute for The ‘Gate to double their lead, Louie Atkins with the goal. Littlehampton did get one back in the 86th minute but couldn’t complete the comeback and Margate won!
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Kane Dempster
Assistants: Matthew Jackson & Harrison Clark
UP THE ‘GATE
