Margate suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon as they were beaten 3-2 by South Park (Reigate) at Hartsdown Park.
Manager Jamie Coyle gave starts to Teddy Perkins and Ryan Huke after they joined the club in the week.
Huke was the first into action as he hit a half volley wide of the goal, before Javaun Splatt thundered the crossbar with a lovely curling effort on 16 minutes as Margate started much on the front foot.
That was unfortunately as good as it was going to get for the ;Gate in the first 45 minutes as the visitors took the lead in the 24th minute as a ball to the far post to Finley Johnson was tidily knocked home to make it 1-0 to South Park.
Margate saw a Bradley Schafer header easily saved before they were again under pressure as Johnson raced down on goal, only for Harry Seaden to stay firm and make a huge save to keep the deficit at just 1-0.
It didn’t last long though as the visitors did double their lead in the 40th minute, with Johnson again the man causing havoc for the Blues as he superbly raced onto a long ball and chipped it over Seaden for 2-0 at the break.
Margate made two changes at the break introducing Albie O’Mara-Knapp and Tariq Ossai in place of Ronald Sithole and Huke and they started the second half much brighter.
O’Mara-Knapp was straight into action as he saw an effort cleared off the line. Four minutes later and Margate were right back in it as Schafer collected on the edge of the box and drilled an effort into the goal.
The hopes of a remarkable turnaround were blown to pieces within 60 seconds of the Schafer goal though as Alex Body, despite tumbling over, still got himself up, turned and fired a goal past Seaden to make it 3-1 to South Park in the 55th minute.
Margate looked livelier when Mal Belboda was introduced. His pace and quick feet were causing issues. He saw an effort go just wide, before his trickery won Margate a free-kick 20-yards out with eight minutes left.
Jake McIntyre stepped up and fired a delightful effort into the top corner to restore some hope amongst the Blues fans with eight minutes plus added time left.
A Schafer effort went close but there was no comeback from the Blues as they feel to a 3-2 defeat.
Margate XI: Seaden, Splatt, Schafer, O’Mara, Dalton (Njie 70’), Garande (Belboda 71’), Wilkins, McIntyre, Huke (O’Mara-Knapp 46’), Perkins (Adewoju 69’), Sithole (Ossai 46’),
Margate Goalscorer’s
Bradley Schafer 54’
Jake McIntyre 82’
Attendance
377
