Margate slipped to a second consecutive 3-0 defeat as they were beaten by a resurgent Hastings United at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.
With Tom Wray and Sam Blackman serving suspensions for their red cards last week, Reece Hobbs was between the sticks for the Blues, while Max Walsh returned to Midfield.
The Blues looking to bounce back, started the game very much on the front foot and could have been ahead in the first minute as a Harrison Hatfull cross found Ibrahim Olutade who saw his effort clip the bar and go over.
Minutes later it was Ben Greenhalgh who almost put the ‘Gate ahead as a Kane Haysman pull back fell to the gaffer, however his fierce strike went narrowly wide from 10 yards out.
Greenhalgh forced the visitors keeper into a good save moments later as the ‘Gate remained on top until the 15th minute when the game took a turn with the visitors awarded a penalty as Hobbs collided with James Stone from a ball into the box, and after a discussion between the referee and the linesman, a penalty was awarded and Stone made no mistake to fire the U’s into an unlikely lead.
A goaline clearance from Kai Garande kept the score at 1-0 to the visitors, however the ‘Gate were handed a brilliant opportunity to get level in the 23rd minute as TT Walters was taken out in the box and the home side were awarded a penalty of their own. Unfortunately for the majority of the strong 613 crowd, Olutade saw his effort saved by the visiting keeper and Margate remained behind.
The missed penalty took the sting out of Margate and from there on in it was pretty bleak for the home side. Hastings doubled their lead in the 41st minute as Jordan Mase fired past Hobbs to give Margate a mountain to climb.
A mountain to climb was soon to become mission impossible as the visitors added a third in first half stoppage time to condemn the ‘Gate to a miserable opening 45 minutes of football.
In truth that third goal sucked the life out of Hartsdown Park and despite a brief moment at the start of the second half where Greenhalgh saw a fierce effort deflected wide, there was no real Margate attacks to try and get themselves back into the game.
Despite using their full allocation of five subs, the ‘Gate couldn’t force anything and could have even fallen further behind in the 85th minute if it wasn’t for a fine last ditch block from the returning Lewis Knight.
The ‘Gate will be keen to put this one behind them as they return to action next Saturday at Hartsdown Park when they welcome 6th placed Merstham in a crucial fixture in the race for the Isthmian South-East play-offs.
Margate XI: Hobbs, Hatfull (Lawrence 46’), Oke (Knight 62’), Walsh (Young 63’), Hudson, Walters (Agbebi 82’), Olutade (Derry 62’), Greenhalgh, Peters, Haysman, Garande
Attendance
613
