By Josh Cole
The final league game of the 2024/25 season for Margate is against Ashford United, at Hartsdown Park!
Last time out on Easter Monday, The ‘Gate beat their bitter rivals Ramsgate 1-4! Read the match report from that game by clicking here.
View the league table by clicking here.
You can get your tickets for this match by clicking here.
ASHFORD UNITED – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
After what was a very promising summer for the Nuts and Bolts there was a lot of hope around this season. They were living up to it early on as well, only losing one game in August to Sittingbourne. This month included FA Cup wins against Egham Town, Harrow Borough, & Three Bridges.
Their cup form continued to be good, beating Deal in the FA Trophy, Corinthian in the FA Cup second qualifying round and Hartley Wintney in the FA Trophy second qualifying round. But there were also three losses in September to Ramsgate, and then came the two cup exits at the hands of Cray Valley in the Kent Senior Cup and Chertsey in the FA Cup.
The FA Trophy run continued with a win over Walton & Hersham and their league form started to pick up after losing to Broadbridge Heath, they won three games on the spin. The fairytale run in the FA Trophy however was ended by Lewes in the first round proper.
Results in the league that followed that results was four losses back-to-back and two wins before the Velocity Cup game with Margate which saw The ‘Gate win 0-6. Their form started to pick up in December and the first of January as in ten games, Ashford won six, drawing two and losing two.
However, they couldn’t keep this run going and in fact, the form turned the other way. In their next nine games, Ashford could only manage one win, and just one draw, losing the other seven games.
But, as of late, form has been decent. In the twelve games leading up to the final day fixture at HDP, Ashford have won five games, drawing four and losing three. This season’s issue has been consistency for Ashford, when everyone tipped them to be a playoff team, they are sat in 11th before this match.
LAST FIVE: MARGATE
3-0 Win vs Hythe Town, home (League)
3-3 Draw vs Sevenoaks Town, away (League)
3-3 Draw vs Merstham, away (League)
6-2 Win vs Beckenham, home (League)
1-4 Win vs Ramsgate, away (League)
LAST FIVE: ASHFORD
2-2 Draw vs Sevenoaks, home (League)
1-1 Draw vs Three Bridges, away (League)
3-6 Loss vs Steyning Town, home (League)
1-3 Win vs Littlehampton, away (League)
5-3 Win vs Hythe Town, home (League)
IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE…
The second league gam of the season back in August saw Margate travel to the Homelands Stadium to play Ashford.
In the 18th minute, former Ashford United captain Harvey Brand would open the scoring for The ‘Gate, but just before half-time, Max Walsh, playing for Ashford then, equalised.
The ‘Gate regained their lead in the 69th minute through Ibrahim Olutade but were once again pegged back by Ashford, with Jack Saunders scoring in the 81st minute.
FULL-TIME: Ashford United 2-2 Margate
STATS COMPARISON IN ALL COMPS:
MARGATE
Matches played: 53
Goals scored: 114
Goals conceded: 62
GD: +52
Clean sheets: 17
ASHFORD
Matches played: 57
Goals scored: 99
Goals conceded: 95
GD: +4
Clean sheets: 7
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Simon Finnigan
Assistants: Michael Corderoy & Christopher Cannon
UP THE ‘GATE
