Margate welcome Beckenham Town to Hartsdown Park on Saturday in the Isthmian South-East Division.
The ‘Gate put on another late show last weekend at Deal Town as they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with late goals in the final 12 minutes, Max Walsh’s leveller coming in the 5th minute of additional time.
It has been two 2-2 draws on the bounce for the ‘Gate after they let a 2-0 lead slip prior to last weekend at home to Faversham Town.
The ‘Gate sit 9th in the league standings and will know they need to convert draws into wins soon if they are to challenge at the top end of the table.
Saturday’s visitors have endured a difficult start to the season. They sit 20th in the division having only won two of their first 12 games, both of which came at home.
On the road they have collected just a single point from their five trips this season, having drawn one and lost four. A change in management saw them record a fine 3-1 win over Sevenoaks Town last weekend, however they fell to a midweek 2-0 home defeat to Sheppey United.
Last season the Blues took six points off Beckenham with a 2-0 away win, before a crushing 6-2 win at Hartsdown Park on Good Friday as Margate secured their place in the play-offs. A hat-trick on that day from last weekend’s hero Max Walsh would be most welcome this weekend for the ‘Gate.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh will have an anxious wait ahead of kick-off as those injured at Deal Town last week will undergo a fitness test ahead of this game. Margate will be without Brandon Davey and Tom Derry who remain long term absentee’s.
We will be holding our annual Halloween Party with arts and crafts in the Hartsdown Bar from 1:30pm, a prize for best dressed and a spook-tacular half-time penalty shoot-out during the interval. We also have freaky fries – a portion of fries topped with jellied Halloween sweets available from the burger bar for £3, whilst adults joining us can earn 10 additional points on their loyalty scheme cards with every Guinness product purchased across all food and drink outlets at Hartsdown Park.
Gates open at 1:30pm with kick-off at 3pm.
