By Josh Cole
A superb Easter Monday to be a Blue with Margate winning 1-4 away at Ramsgate!
A capacity croud of 3,300 people packed into the WW Martin Community Stadium, with just under 1,000 Blues in support!
The game started brightly for The ‘Gate, Louie Atkins in three minutes had a golden chance but it was saved by Henry Newcombe.
On 16 minutes, Josh Ajayi beat the Margate offside trap and went through one-on-one with Tom Wray but Wray did well to win the ball in his box as Ajayi tried to take it round him!
Then just a minute later, Max Walsh had his 16th goal of the season, Tom Derry flicked it into his path and Walsh placed it home to make it 0-1!
Just two minutes later Wray was called into action and produced two big saves to deny Benny Bioletti and Joe Taylor from point blank range.
Corners were a big part of this game, both teams had a lot but neither team were creating golden chances, however in the 42nd minute, a Ramsgate corner would mean a goal…
For The ‘Gate as they hit the hosts on a counter, Tushaun Walters brought the ball into the Rams half, played it down the line for Derry and his cross found the head of Atkins and it was a super finish to make it 0-2!
Just before half-time, Ajayi scored from a free kick, he went around the wall and beat Wray at the far post, setting up an exciting second half.
In the 48th minute Atkins would hit the woodwork as Ben Greenhalgh’s cross found Derry’s head at the back post, he directed the header to Atkins but the strike hit the bar.
Ten minutes later, The ‘Gate had a third! Joe Ellul got caught on the ball and was robbed by Walters, he then calmly went around the ‘keeper and knocked the ball into the empty net to make it 1-3!
Then the game hit a bit of a snag, but both teams were still playing on the front foot despite not creating as much as the rest of the game.
Ramsgate should have scored in the 79th minute as Kai Garratt put a ball in across the six-yard box but somehow Ajayi put it wide.
A red card was shown to Olumide Oluwatimilehin after Derry did superbly to win the ball of Barnes and as he was about to run into the box gets a shove from the Rams defender, and as he was last man, they went down to ten.
There was a second red card given to Ramsgate with frustrations rising amongst their ranks, Tom Clifford swiped out at Ben Allen and then kicked him on the floor for good measure and the referee gave him his marching orders, Rams were down to nine.
In the 96th minute of play, Ramsgate sent everyone forward for the corner, including the goalie with nothing to lose.
Margate cleared and had a two-on-one with Allen and Derry racing towards goal, Allen beat the last defender and then strolled into the box and calmly finished the ball and the game in style, capping off a superb away performance and a sweet derby victory for Margate!
Margate XI: 13. Tom Wray, 2. Harrison Hatfull, 4. Max Walsh (Jack Peters 89′), 7. Tushaun Walters (Ibrahim Olutade 69′), 11. Ben Greenhalgh, 12. Lewis Knight (C), 14. Brandon Davey (Fyn Rutherford 45′), 16. Tyrone Sterling, 17. Kai Garande, 18. Louie Atkins (Ben Allen 77′) & 19. Tom Derry.
Margate Media Man of the Match: Tom Derry
MFC goalscorers: Walsh 17′ Atkins 43′ Walters 58′ & Allen 90+6′
Attendance: 3,300
UP THE ‘GATE
