Nine man Margate endured a difficult afternoon in West Sussex as their 10 game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end against League leaders Three Bridges on Saturday afternoon on a filthy afternoon with rain and wind driving down all afternoon.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh reintroduced Sam Blackman and Jack Peters to midfield as Max Walsh and Henry Young were moved to the bench as the ‘Gate looked to close the gap at the top of the table to just seven points.
The afternoon started brightly on the pitch, despite the weather off it. Ibrahim Olutade and Ben Greenhalgh forced opportunities in the opening seven minutes as Margate took the game to their hosts. TT Walters looked a threat down the right with Kane Haysman, Greenhalgh and Olutade all linking well to pose a threat going forward.
The hosts had to wait 25 minutes for their first chance and it was a glorious one when it did arrive, however former ‘Gate striker Noel Leighton somehow misplaced his header wide after an excellent leap. Two minutes later and the hosts were again knocking on the door and this time they came even closer as they raced clear, eventually with the ball rolled across goal, only for the attacker to smack the effort onto the post from only six yards out.
The game took its first twist of the afternoon just two minutes before the break as a long ball over the top was raced onto by Leighton who flicked it past Tom Wray who was adjudged to have used his hand to divert it wide outside of his box, leaving the referee to show a straight a red card.
The issue was exasperated further by the fact that Margate hadn’t named Reece Hobbs on the bench, meaning Manager Greenhalgh took the gloves and spent the rest of the game between the sticks.
He saw out the final two minutes of the half unscathed, but the afternoon was to take a further twist as the teams headed into the tunnel for a half-time break. As the players headed in, an altercation followed between both teams. Sam Blackman was shown a straight red card in the tunnel and Margate would have to play the second half with just nine men, and Greenhalgh in goal.
Margate introduced Harry Lawrence to the backline in place of Walters. Despite reinforcements at the back, realistically it was always going to be a long 45 minutes for the ‘Gate. They fell behind just three minutes into the half as a ball cut back to Ade Adeyinka was bundled past Greenhalgh to make it 1-0.
Five minutes later and it was 2-0 as Reece Hallard struck a low effort past Greenhalgh as the Blues looked to minimise the destruction. The hosts looked to continue their dominance, however were met by a heroic goalkeeping display by Greenhalgh who made two superb saves to keep the score at 2-0.
In a strange twist, Greenhalgh continued to take free-kicks for the ‘Gate and his delivery into the box from just inside the hosts half caused panic as the Blues almost got one back.
With twenty minutes left, Greenhalgh took a free-kick on the left hand side which saw the hosts break quickly but somehow Greenhalgh recovered before making a sublime save with his feet to deny the hosts a third.
Two minutes later and Margate almost grabbed their opener as Haysman struck a pull back into a wall of bodies on the line as Margate refused to roll over despite so many disadvantages against them. Four minutes later the Blues struck the woodwork as Harry Hudson climbed highest only to see his effort smack the bar.
With the ‘Gate in the ascendency somehow, Three Bridges struck a third in the 78th minute to put the game beyond Margate as Adeyinka rolled in a third.
With two minutes to go, the returning Tom Derry climbed highest in the box, only to see his header somehow cleared off the line in dramatic fashion. There was just enough time for the ‘Gate to smack the woodwork again as Kai Garande saw a low drive hit the post just moments before the full-time whistle as Margate headed home with respect from the travelling fans who saw their gaffer step up in goal and the lads show resilience on a tough afternoon in West Sussex.
Margate XI: Wray ( Red Card 43’), Hatfull (Young 58’), Oke, Hudson, Walters (Lawrence 45’), Blackman (Red Card 45’), Olutade (Derry 75’), Greenhalgh, Peters (Walsh 68’), Haysman (Agbebi 77’), Garande
Attendance
182
