Margate fans were given an extremely late treat on Halloween as the Blues fought back from 1-0 down in the 87th minute to snatch a 2-1 win over Eastbourne Town at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the game the club paid tribute and remembered the fallen soldiers with a playing of the last post by the Margate Sea Cadets.
The ‘Gate started on the front foot with Hassan Nalbant forced the visiting keeper into an early save. Harry Seaden had to be on his toes to deny Aaron Capon moments later.
Johan Caney-Bryan saw a deflected shot fly into the arms of the keeper before a superb cross from Ronald Sithole found Jayden Boulton at the back post, however his volley went wide.
In the 34th minute the visitors stunned the home side as a cross from the right found Joe Summerbell unmarked and he headed home at the back post completely unmarked.
The visitors tails were up as Marcin Ruda went clear, however some last ditch defending prevented any further damage before half-time.
The ‘Gate started the second half looking to get back on level terms early as a long throw from Sithole caused problems, however the shot at the back post went wide.
Margate almost found themselves 2-0 down moments later as Capon raced through one on one with Seaden, however the keeper stood firm and denied the opportunity.
On the hour Margate struck the post as Caney-Bryan’s sweet effort cannoned back off the post as Margate felt like it wasn’t going to be their day.
The introduction of Elliott Duncan almost had the perfect response as a through ball put him in on goal, however his strike went inches wide as Margate began to run out of time.
Schafer and Sithole fired efforts goalwards to no avail as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, and it looked like Margate would suffer a Halloween nightmare result, however in the 88th minute a superb Richie Hamill cross found the head of Joe Tyrie who headed home a deserved equaliser.
An Eastbourne player was then red carded in the aftermath and with four minutes added time, Margate’s tails were up.
A corner in the 93rd minute was cleared away setting up another long throw from Sithole who launched it into the box and after a goalmouth scramble, David Adewoju fired home a last gasp winner to move the ‘Gate up to 5th in the table heading into November.
Margate XI: Seaden, Boulton, Hamill, Adewoju, Schafer, O’Mara, Tyrie, Wilkins (Huke 69’), Nalbant (Duncan 68’), Sithole, Caney Bryan (Nunn 62’) (Dalton 90’)
Subs not used: Mbogba
Margate Goalscorer’s
Joe Tyrie 88’
David Adewoju 90+3
Attendance
352
