Margate made it six away wins in a row on Saturday afternoon as they overcome VCD Athletic 1-0 at Oakwood to keep their feint play-off hopes alive.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh returned to the same starting XI that won away at AFC Whyteleafe last Saturday, but was boosted by the return of striker Louie Atkins on the bench after his injury lay-off.
In sunny, but blustery conditions it was Margate that got off to a very quick start, however they were unable to find an early goal. In the opening minute a ball was flashed across the VCD Athletic six yard line which was poked wide, before a minute later some nice work saw the ball fall to TT Walters who saw his effort go well over the bar.
Margate continued on the front foot and in the 18th minute saw some nice link up play between Kane Haysman and Greenhalgh which saw the ‘Gate open up the hosts backline, however Greenhalgh struck his shot pretty much at the keeper.
A Greenhalgh free-kick from 25-yards then went inches wide, before again the gaffer saw a low effort dragged just wide which Sam Blackman almost turned in at the back post but couldn’t quite reach.
It wasn’t long before the Blues were in front though. In the blustery conditions and facing the wind, a long kick up field from Dino Kaiser was helped on by Ibrahim Olutade to Greenhalgh who made no mistake to fire the ‘Gate into a deserved 1-0 lead.
VCD sprung into life approaching the end of the first half as they knew they needed all three points to give themselves a chance of staying in the division. Their first shot of the afternoon in the 41st minute was deflected into the hands of Kaiser, although they should have levelled in the 45th minute as a ball in from the right needed tapping home, however it was somehow sliced wide and Margate went in with a 1-0 lead.
Despite not creating much at the start of the second half, it was clear that the hosts were fighting for their league survival as they were scrapping for everything and putting the ‘Gate under pressure.
Sun and wind soon become rain, hailstones and wild gusts as a storm set over Oakwood in the 60th minute.
With 21 minutes left on the clock and in the driving rain, Kaiser made a good one handed save as VCD threw everything at Margate as the game became scrappy.
It was all VCD at this point though, and they struck the post before a minute later Captain Harry Hudson superbly cleared an effort off the line as Margate were defending to try and earn another clean sheet.
With the hosts really pushing forward in the dying moments, Margate should have made it 2-0 as Olutade took down a long ball from the back and squared to Atkins making his return, he shook a defender off but then crashed his low effort wide of the post from 10 yards out.
Margate were to hold on for all three points and make it six on the bounce away from home, meaning the Blues have lost just once in their last 15 away games.
The result leaves Margate four points outside the play-offs with just two games remaining of the season.
Margate XI: Kaiser, Oke, Knight, Hudson, Walters (Hatfull 67’), Blackman, Olutade, Greenhalgh, Haysman (Atkins 67’), Garande
Subs not used: Derry, Young, Nkwocha
Margate Goalscorer
Ben Greenhalgh 33’
Attendance
138
