Margate cruised into the 1st Qualifying Round of the 2026/27 Emirates FA Cup as they beat Peacehaven & Telscombe 4-1 on Saturday afternoon.
In bright Sussex sunshine, Manager Jamie Coyle recalled Connor Wilkins to the starting XI and gave Ronald Sithole his first competitive start this season as Kai Garande and Tariq Ossai were named to the bench.
In truth, the ‘Gate dominated from start to finish and should have had the lead after 50 seconds as a ball knocked down into the path of Wilkins six yards from goal was blasted over the bar as he was leaning back.
Margate went full throttle and almost took the lead In the 5th minute as Gibou Njie curled an effort goalwards which was just tipped over.
It didn’t take Margate much longer to eventually break the deadlock as a well worked short corner eventually came to Bradley Schafer whose pinpoint cross found Finn O’Mara who poked home at the far post to give the ‘Gate a deserved lead.
Margate had their tails up as Oghosa Williams let fly from 25-yards out which went narrowly wide, before Schafer harassed the hosts backline and pinched the ball in the box, however his lay off to Williams didn’t quite work out as he sent a weak effort goalwards.
How Margate hadn’t added a second before the break was anyone’s guess as Williams done well down the left before squaring to Sithole who managed to drag his shot wide as Margate were frustrated to go in at the break with only a one goal advantage.
For all their frustrations, the ‘Gate started the second half in clinical style and put the game to bed as a quick breakaway saw the ball eventually come to Williams who made no mistake as he slammed home a second for the Blues.
Nine minutes into the second half and Margate were running away with it as Schafer, Williams and Javaun Splatt linked up explosively, with the latter eventually racing through and convincingly finishing to make it 3-0 with only 54 minutes on the clock.
Despite the convincing lead, Margate weren’t done there as they added a fourth goal in the 65th minute. Schafer collected the ball just outside the box, weaved in and out of challenges before smashing home to make it 4-0 from a tight angle.
Peacehaven & Telscombe were being thwarted every time they come forward with the ‘Gate backline looking unbeatable.
With nine minutes to go, the Blues were somehow denied a penalty as Kai Garande charged into the box and was upended, however the referee ignored the calls as the game continued, much to Margate’s surprise.
Into the first minute of six added at the end of the second half, Margate were beaten as a ball into the box was nodded down to the far post where Connor Tighe tapped home to add a small blemish on what was an incredible afternoon for the ‘Gate and their travelling fans.
Margate XI: Seaden, Njie (Brooke 77’), Thomas, Adewoju (McIntyre 86’), Splatt (O’Mara-Knapp 62’), Schafer, Williams (Ossai 68’), O’Mara, Dalton, Wilkins, Sithole (Garande 75’)
Subs not used: Hall. Caney-Bryan
Margate Goalscorers
Finn O’Mara 11’
Oghosa Williams 48’
Javaun Splatt 54’
Bradley Schafer 65’
Attendance
279
Margate Man of the Match
Bradley Schafer
