Margate put in a dominant display at Hartsdown Park as they overcome league leaders Three Bridges 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh made two changes as he brought Emmanuel Oke back into the starting XI after he served a one game suspension, whilst Henry Young was chosen ahead of Kane Haysman.
With the visitors scoring over 100 league goals so far this season, Margate knew it could be a long afternoon dealing with the Three Bridges frontline, however surprisingly the first half an hour went past with neither side creating anything meaningful.
Margate may have felt they could have been awarded a penalty in the first half as Ibrahim Olutade almost strode clear before being tripped, however the referee continued and both sides went in at the break all square.
Margate would have been expecting more from the visitors but again it was them who looked on top as Sam Blackman flicked a header from a cross into the box onto the post as the ‘Gate looked to step up their own pressure.
With Three Bridges being restricted by some strong midfield play and superb defensive play, Margate struck the first goal of the afternoon just past the hour mark. A ball into the box was superbly taken down and hit by Greenhalgh who saw the ball blocked, before it fell to Young 15 yards out who struck a sweet effort into the bottom corner to give Margate a deserved lead.
Margate were in complete control and almost doubled their lead in the 70th minute as Olutade raced down the left before pulling it back to Greenhalgh who swivelled before seeing his low drive brilliantly saved as Margate looked to put the game to bed.
With 15 minutes left on the clock there was some fight from the visitors, however a combination of brilliant defending and safe hands from Dino Kaiser nullified any threat that was forthcoming.
With the game drifting towards full time, Margate secured all three points as a Three Bridges defender headed back to his keeper, however he overbaked the header which looped over the keeper, allowing Greenhalgh to race onto it and poke home an easy second goal to secure another fine three points against the league leaders.
Margate return to action on Tuesday night as they face relegation threatened Beckenham Town away from home.
Margate XI: Kaiser, Hatfull, Oke, Knight, Hudson, Blackman (Haysman 85’), Olutade, Greenhalgh, Davey, Young, Garande (Walters 90’)
Subs not used: Derry, Hoxha, Vint
Margate Goalscorer’s
Henry Young 61’
Ben Greenhalgh 90’
Attendance
450
