Margate’s Isuzu FA Trophy journey came to an early end on Saturday afternoon as they were beaten 4-2 by Isthmian South Central side Westfield at Woking Park in the First Qualifying Round.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh made a key change to the starting XI, recalling Sam Blackman as the ‘Gate looked to build on their Preliminary Round win over Egham Town last month. Despite a positive opening spell where Margate enjoyed more possession, it was the hosts who landed the first blow.
Westfield took the lead in the 14th minute following a Margate attack that broke down. Midfielder Gegonas surged from deep before calmly slotting past Tom Wray to put the home side 1-0 ahead.
Margate were dealt a further setback just seven minutes later as Blackman was forced off with a recurrence of his calf injury, prompting the early introduction of Kane Haysman. His arrival gave the Blues a noticeable lift in attack. Ibrahim Olutade laid off a long ball into Haysman’s path, but his shot drifted wide. Soon after, Kai Garande’s dangerous cross found Tom Derry, whose header lacked the power to trouble the goalkeeper.
Just as Margate were beginning to build momentum, another counterattack saw them undone. A swift Westfield break in the 32nd minute ended with Martin firing home to double the hosts’ lead.
Things went from bad to worse on the stroke of half-time. A long ball forward caused confusion at the back, allowing Dede to nip in, round Wray, and roll the ball into an empty net for a 3-0 lead at the interval.
With it all to do, Greenhalgh made two changes at half-time, bringing on Kieron Agbebi and TT Walters in place of Derry and Max Walsh. The response was immediate. Within a minute of the restart, Agbebi rose highest to meet a cross from the left and headed home to give the Blues hope.
Margate’s urgency continued and they almost pulled another goal back in the 52nd minute when Walters’ dangerous delivery was nearly met by Agbebi, only for a Westfield defender to divert the ball behind for a corner.
But Margate’s luck turned again just three minutes later, as Agbebi—impressive in his brief cameo—pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Blu Husthwaite.
Despite the disruption, the ‘Gate continued to push. In the 68th minute, Walters threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Garande, who broke clear on goal. His low drive looked destined for the net, only to be denied by a superb save from the Westfield goalkeeper.
At the other end, Westfield nearly added a fourth in the 74th minute when Wray’s mis-hit clearance fell to Dede, who smashed the ball first-time against the crossbar.
Margate gave themselves a lifeline with six minutes remaining. A knockdown found Haysman on the edge of the area, and he rifled a stunning strike into the net to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finale.
With time running out, Margate threw everything forward—including defender Lewis Knight who joined the attack as a makeshift striker. But the gamble backfired in stoppage time when another attack broke down, allowing Westfield to counter and seal the victory with a fourth goal in the 94th minute.
There was still time for the Westfield goalkeeper to make a sensational double save, first denying Greenhalgh and then a point-blank follow-up inside the six-yard box, but it wasn’t enough as Margate’s FA Trophy campaign came to a disappointing end.
Margate Scorers:
Kieron Agbebi (46’)
Kane Haysman (84’)
Margate XI:
Wray, Hatfull, Walsh (Walters 45’), Knight, Hudson, Blackman (Haysman 21’), Olutade, Derry (Agbebi 45’, Husthwaite 55’), Greenhalgh, Davey, Garande
Subs not used: Hobbs
Attendance: 134
