By Josh Cole
It’s 5th vs 4th tomorrow as The ‘Gate travel to Merstham for matchday #39 of the league season!
Last time out Margate had a thrilling six-goal draw away at Sevenoaks. Read the match report from that game by clicking here.
View how the league table looks after that result by clicking here.
MERSTHAM – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
Their season started impressively, with a 7-0 win over Wick in the FA Cup extra preliminary round. They followed that up with a 0-1 win in the league against Steyning Town and another FA Cup win against Erith Town 2-1. They lost in the league against Eastbourne Town 1-3 but managed to beat Three Bridges in the league and Steyning Town in the FA Cup to bounce back.
Whilst progressing in the Velocity Cup by beating East Grinstead, Merstham were thumped out of the FA Trophy, losing 5-0 to Ascot United. Their form had dipped at this point as they drew 3-3 with AFC Croydon, lost to Tonbridge Angels in the FA Cup second qualifying round and lost to Beckenham. They went unbeaten through their next five games, winning two and drawing three before losing 4-3 to Deal Town.
After that loss to Deal, Merstham only lost one game in their next eight, which saw them win six of those games, drawing the other. Then their form became a mixed bag, losing to Burgess Hill and Sittingbourne whilst drawing to Sevenoaks, bottom of the table Steyning and Margate at HDP.
After a win against Broadbridge Heath and a draw against Herne Bay, Merstham beat Sheerwater 4-0 in the Surrey Senior Cup second round. In their next eleven games, they only lost once in the league and once in the Surrey County Cup quarter final away at National League South side, Dorking. In the rest of that period the Moatsiders won seven times and drew twice.
Two back-to-back losses against Ramsgate and Deal were cancelled out by two wins in their last two matches against Herne Bay and Hythe, this currently sees Mertsham hold down 5th place, by just two points and they are seven points behind The ‘Gate in 4th.
LAST FIVE: MERSTHAM
9-0 Win vs East Grinstead, home (League)
4-1 Loss vs Ramsgate, away (League)
2-4 Loss vs Deal Town, home (League)
1-0 Win vs Herne Bay, home (League)
2-5 Win vs Hythe Town, away (League)
LAST FIVE: MARGATE
1-1 Draw vs Broadbridge Heath, home (League)
4-1 Win vs Littlehampton, home (League)
1-3 Win vs Steyning Town, away (League)
3-0 Win vs Hythe Town, home (League)
3-3 Draw vs Sevenoaks Town, away (League)
IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE…
Margate kicked off 2025 at home with a 1-1 draw against Merstham.
The ‘Gate took the lead in the game on the 55th minute when Kai Garande scored another beautiful goal making it two in two for him!
However, two minutes before the 90′ Aaron Jenkins got one back for the visitors and ensured that the game would end level.
FULL-TIME: MARGATE 1-1 MERSTHAM
STATS COMPARISON IN ALL COMPS:
MERSTHAM:
Matches played: 48
Goals scored: 108
Goals conceded: 77
GD: +31
Clean sheets: 14
MARGATE:
Matches played: 50
Goals scored: 101
Goals conceded: 56
GD: +45
Clean sheets: 17
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Steven Goldup
Assistants: Ayden Gillespie & Jacob Miller
UP THE GATE
