Margate were made to share the spoils as they drew 1-1 at The Bourne Stadium against Sevenoaks Town on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh gave a debut to new goalkeeper signing James Batt with Tom Wray injured, whilst Yaser Kasim and Ronnie Vint returned to the ‘Gate bench after rejoining the club on Friday.
It was a bright start for the ‘Gate with TT Walters looking particularly dangerous down the right hand side with his pace causing some early issues for the home side.
It was Walters who would muster up the first meaningful chance of the afternoon as he headed a wonderful diagonal cross ball from Greenhalgh which the keeper saved, before the rebound was nodded back across goal, however there was no one there to knock it home for the ‘Gate.
Walters was looking electric and he won another foul on the edge of the box on 18 minutes with his pure pace. The free-kick, 18-yards out was set by Greenhalgh to Walters who stopped the ball which allowed Greenhalgh to whip an effort past the home keeper and give the ‘Gate a deserved early lead.
The lead wasn’t to last long though as the hosts levelled the game moments later as a Joe Taylor back pass fell short of Batt in the goal who was beaten to it by Jefferson Aibangbee who tapped home to level the scores.
With eight minutes to go until the break Margate thought they had retaken the lead as a knockdown into the box was turned home by Lewis Knight, however the linesman adjudged him to be offside and goal was chalked off.
Ibrahim Olutade replaced Taylor at the break, but it was Greenhalgh who looked lively once again as he danced through before seeing his low shot well saved within five minutes of the restart.
Batt, on debut was called into making two brilliant saves to deny the hosts the lead, the second him smothering the ball at the feet of Aibangbee as he looked destined to add a second.
Margate saw Sam Blackman and Emmanuel Oke have half chances with their heads go wide and narrowly over respectively as the gamed ended level and the points shared.
Margate XI: Batt, Hatfull, Oke, Walsh (Kasim 74’), Knight, Walters (Nkwocha 92’), Blackman, Taylor (Olutade 45’), Greenhalgh, Haysman, Garande
Subs not used: Young, Vint
Margate Goalscorer
Ben Greenhalgh 18’
Attendance
255
