By David Hansen
Margate welcomed SCEFL Premier Division Sutton Athletic for their final home friendly ahead of the 2025/2026 season under the lights at Hartsdown park with ben Greenhalgh naming a much changed side ahead the final test of pre-season against Dover Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
It was a quiet start from both sides with the visitors the ones who made the most impression early on in the game creating a couple of half chances from distance which goalkeeper Reece Hobbs made easy work with, by claiming one and pushing the other away for a Sutton Athletic corner.
Margate were having success on the break, utilising the pace of attackers TT Walters and Kieron Agbebi who managed to break the lines on several occasions but the Sutton keeper snuffed out any threat from the Margate attacks, including a close range save from striker Ibrahim Olutade.
The final chance of the half fell from a well-placed free kick on the left side which was curled to the far corner by Walters but tipped around the post low and out for a corner.
The second half started similar to the first with not a lot of action and both teams feeling their way back into the game especially when both sides made wholesale changes around the hour mark.
Sutton Athletic took the lead in the 72nd minute through a long range strike which was smacked into the roof of the net during a passage of play that was riddled with turnovers and no overall control for either side.
The Sutton Athletic goal seemed to of perked up Margate, as only moments later new signing Ben Wells headed home from a corner to equalise.
With ten minutes to go Margate gave away penalty after a pull of the shirt causing the referee to point to the spot. Reece Hobbs would be the hero as he got down low to his right and held on to a low effort from the spot kick taker.
That was the final action of the game as pre-season at Hartsdown Park came to an end with further minutes for all players ahead of the new campaign and give our visitors prep for their upcoming FA Cup fixture.
Margate conclude their pre-season calendar with a visit to the Crabble Ground to face Dover Athletic in what looks to be Ben Greenhalgh’s sides toughest test in pre-season to date.
The ‘Gate kick off their 2025/2026 Isthmian South East Division campaign on the 9th of August with a visit from Jersey Bulls,with Kick-off scheduled for 1pm.
Lineup:
Hobbs, Husthwaite, Oke, Lamb, Saunders, Davey, Blackman, Olutade, Walters, Agbebi, Atkins.
Substitutes:
Greenhalgh, Walsh, White, Hatfull, Derry, Wells, Hudson, Garande.
Goals:
Wells.
