Margate continued preparations for the new season with a hard fought 0-0 draw against SCEFL Premier Division side AFC Greenwich Borough at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday evening.
Margate once again named two different starting XI’s, one for each half as they continued to share the load around the squad.
The ‘Gate were without David Adewoju and Finn O’Mara, whilst Norman Wabo returned to the starting XI for the first 45 minutes.
In an otherwise uneventful opening twenty minutes, Margate were reduced to ten men in the 20th minute as Javaun Splatt was alleged to have retaliated to a tough challenge on him, resulting the referee brandishing a straight red card much to everyone’s surprise inside Hartsdown Park.
It was a game that always seemed on the edge with temperatures flaring throughout, however Margate will feel they should have taken the lead in the final minute of the first half as Bradley Schafer delivered a wonderful cross to the back post which somehow managed to evade Ralfi Hand who was only a few yards out.
Margate changed their remaining ten players in the second half and it was the visitors who grew into the game with some half chances, including a header which Jacob Russell dealt with to keep the scores level.
In the 69th minute Russell produced a fine double save to deny the visitors an almost certain lead as the game continued to flow from one end to another, however it was the visitors who were creating the better chances.
With nine minutes left on the clock the game once again spilled over as an over the top challenge from a visiting player was deemed excessive and both managers agreed with the officials to call the game early to avoid any further injuries or red cards.
Margate return to action this Saturday as they visit Isthmian Premier Division side Chatham Town with kick-off scheduled for midday.
