Captain Harry Hudson rescued a valuable point for Margate on Saturday afternoon as they drew 1-1 with an in-form Merstham side at the Hybrid Fitness Stadium in the Isthmian South-East Division.
The ‘Gate made several changes ahead of the clash, with striker Tom Derry recalled to the starting XI and new signing Michael Clark making his debut. Lewis Knight was unavailable, and Sam Blackman was only fit enough for the bench, while Kane Haysman earned his first start since rejoining the club last week.
It was the hosts who started brighter, with Sam King firing wide after just seven minutes following a low cross into the box. Merstham continued to push forward and almost took the lead on 13 minutes, but a stunning long-range strike from Jamarie Brissett was equally matched by a superb save from Margate keeper Tom Wray.
Margate took time to settle but began finding their rhythm midway through the half, creating opportunities from set-pieces. Derry’s header from a corner was the closest the visitors came in the opening 30 minutes, but it was comfortably held by Merstham keeper Rob Tolfrey.
As half-time approached, Wray was again called into action, pulling off another impressive save to keep the scores level at the break, with Margate thankful for their number one’s heroics.
The second half began with intensity, as both sides pushed forward but struggled to create clear chances. Merstham came close again in the 58th minute, with Finlay Johnson forcing another strong save from Wray.
Just two minutes later, Merstham’s pressure paid off. A deflected shot fell kindly to King, who made no mistake from close range to give the home side a deserved lead on the hour mark.
In response, Margate introduced TT Walters in the 72nd minute, a change that injected fresh energy into the visitors’ attack. Ben Greenhalgh tested Tolfrey with a powerful strike before delivering a dangerous free-kick that unsettled the Merstham defence.
Margate found their equaliser in the 78th minute. Captain Harry Hudson rose highest to meet a set-piece delivery, guiding his header past Tolfrey to bring the Blues level with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The final stages were frantic, with both sides pushing for a winner. Merstham squandered a good chance in the 85th minute, moments before Greenhalgh again went close for Margate, drawing another smart stop from the home keeper.
In the 87th minute, a swift Merstham counter-attack from a Margate corner nearly saw the hosts steal it, but the chance was dragged wide. Margate responded with one last surge, and in the 90th minute a dangerous free-kick sparked a goalmouth scramble, only for the hosts to eventually clear.
There was late drama in the 95th minute when Hudson thought he had scored his second and snatched all three points with a bullet header from a free-kick—only to see the linesman’s flag raised for offside.
Final Score:
Merstham 1–1 Margate
Margate Scorer:
Harry Hudson (78’)
Margate XI:
Wray, Hatfull, Walsh (Walters 72’), Hudson, Olutade, Derry, Greenhalgh, Davey, Haysman, Clark, Garande
Subs not used: Hobbs, Husthwaite, Blackman, Agbebi
Attendance: 444
