Margate Women produced an important comeback performance to beat Long Lane 4-3 away from home, overcoming an early two-goal deficit.
The hosts started strongly and took the lead in the 6th minute when hesitation in the Margate defence allowed a Long Lane attacker to pounce on an unclaimed ball, round Urban, and finish into an open goal. Seven minutes later the hosts scored again when an impressive long ball over the top of the Margate back line wasn’t dealt with and the striker capitalised on the ball in behind, calmly finishing past Suzie Urban to make it 2–0.
Margate were handed a chance to respond almost immediately when a Long Lane handball in the box awarded a penalty. Nicole Adams stepped up but fired just over the bar, leaving the visitors still searching for a way back into the game.
Their breakthrough came in the 24th minute, when Abbie Greetham’s dangerous corner found Nicole Adams in the middle of the box. She rose highest to
meet it with a powerful header into the top left corner, halving the deficit.
Margate began to take control of the game and eventually levelled things up in the 31st minute after a brilliant flowing move through midfield. One-touch passing opened up the Long Lane defence, and Nicole Adams slipped in Emily Hall, who beat her marker and finished clinically into the bottom corner. Increasing her total tally to 6 goals in 7 games for the Gate.
The turnaround was complete on the stroke of half- time when Freya Farmery drove forward from midfield and released Hall down the right flank; her precise low cross was met by Adams, who made no mistake to fire Margate 3–2 ahead.
Early in the second half, Margate extended their lead to 4–2 when Hall’s powerful corner delivery flew across goal and deflected off a Long Lane defender into the net for an own goal.
Long Lane reduced the deficit in the 84th minute following a scrappy sequence in the Margate box, the ball bouncing around several times before
rebounding off the post and onto a defender’s leg for an unfortunate own goal.
After that, Margate were forced to defend deep to protect their lead, showing great resilience to see out the final stages and claim all three points in an exciting contest.
Next Fixture
Margate Women are back in SECWFL action next weekend as they return to Hartsdown Park, facing Tunbridge Wells Foresters for a 4:30 kick off.
Line Up:
Urban, Miller, Mann, Beach, Greetham, Farmery, Luby, Manning, Butova, Adams (c), Hall
Subs: Ring, Alexander, George
Goals:
Adams (2), Hall (1), OG (1)
