Margate fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat in their latest pre-season outing, edged out by a stunning Joe Healy volley in the 88th minute as hosts Whitstable Town claimed victory at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh made several changes to his starting line-up, handing Tom Wray a recall in goal, while Lewis Knight wore the armband and partnered Emmanuel Oke in central defence. Sam Blackman and Kieron Agbebi also returned to the starting eleven as Margate continued preparations for their Isthmian South-East League opener on Saturday 9th August.
The game started at a lively pace, with both sides looking to land early blows. Margate were first out of the blocks, applying pressure and winning a series of corners in the opening minutes. However, it was the hosts who carved out the first clear-cut chance, forcing Wray into an excellent save in the 7th minute to turn Bradley Schafer’s fierce drive around the post.
Margate responded shortly after with an attacking move that saw loud penalty appeals waved away by the referee after what appeared to be a shove on a ‘Gate forward inside the box.
The tempo briefly dipped before Whitstable regained momentum just before the half-hour mark. In the 29th minute, Ashdon Day rounded Wray but scuffed his effort wide of the target.
The home side wouldn’t be denied for long. In the 33rd minute, Schafer broke clear and threaded a pass through to Splatt, who made no mistake with a low drive into the bottom corner to give Whitstable a 1-0 lead at the break.
Margate made four changes at half-time, introducing Harry Hudson, Ben Wells, Loui Atkins, and Ibrahim Olutade as Greenhalgh looked to rotate his squad and shift the momentum.
Just two minutes after the restart, Margate thought they had levelled when a Greenhalgh free-kick found its way to the back post and was tapped in by Olutade – only for the referee to disallow the goal and award Whitstable a free-kick.
Joe Healy came close to doubling the hosts’ lead shortly after, but Margate’s pressure eventually paid off in the 64th minute. A perfectly struck Greenhalgh free-kick from 25 yards found the net to bring the visitors level – a deserved reward for their second-half dominance.
Margate were now in the ascendancy and nearly turned the game on its head moments later when a flowing move down the right saw Harrison Hatfull deliver a low cross that found George Lamb, whose powerful strike flew just over the bar.
However, the tide turned once more in the 69th minute as Essa Jadama saw his shot clip the post. A raft of late substitutions from both sides slowed the rhythm of the game – until the decisive moment arrived in the closing stages.
With just two minutes remaining, the ball fell kindly to Healy 25 yards from goal. He struck a sensational volley past Wray to seal the win for Whitstable in dramatic fashion.
Despite the defeat, the match provided another valuable 90 minutes for Margate’s squad as they build toward the upcoming league campaign.
Next up, Margate return to Hartsdown Park on Saturday as they host Concord Rangers (Isthmian North Division) in another pre-season fixture, with kick-off at 3pm.
Margate XI:
Wray (Page 89’), Hatfull, Knight (Hudson 45’), Oke, Garande (Saunders 82’), Blackman (Lamb 61’), Peters (Wells 45’), Walsh (Trialist 65’), Agbebi (Atkins 45’), Derry (Olutade 45’), Greenhalgh
Goalscorer:
Greenhalgh 64’
Attendance: 396
