Margate suffered a second consecutive league defeat as they were beaten 2-1 by a late Sevenoaks Town winner on Saturday afternoon.
Will Thomas was a welcome return at centre-half after injury, whilst Olu Oluwatimiehin was a welcome return to the bench as he continued to recover from injury.
Margate started quickly and could have been ahead within four minutes as Bradley Schafer flicked the ball on to Javaun Splatt who showed great strength to race clear, however his shot lacked direction as it flew well wide.
Margate looked intent and should have been ahead a few minutes later as Schafer again delivered a wonderful ball into the box which should have been headed home, however it looked like the linesman’s flag was to spare any Margate blushes.
Sevenoaks grew into the game and Harry Seaden made hist first save of the afternoon as he got down quickly to deny Perez an opener.
The game was end to end with Ronald Sithole the next Margate player to force a save as he raced through, however the outstretched hand of Harry Brook’s denied Margate a lead. Seaden was having to stay on his toes though as two long range efforts stung his hands as both sides looked as likely as each other to open the scoring.
Margate fell behind in the 35th minute as Nathan Jeche received the ball after some nice play and slammed it past the helpless Seaden as the hosts went in 1-0 up at the break.
Sevenoaks could have doubled their lead in the opening 60 seconds of the second half as a ball across the box was behind Jeche who was ready to pounce.
That let off seemed to ignite the Blues into action as a corner caused carnage in the box leading to the hosts smacking it away for another, which this time Margate made no mistake as Thomas rose highest in the box and thundered a header into the net for 1-1.
Eight minutes later and Margate thought they were ahead as Sithole raced through and squared the ball to Gibou Njie who tucked the ball away, however the linesman raised his flag adjudging it was a forward pass to Njie which made him in an offside position.
Margate continued to look most likely as Splatt and Schafer again linked up well, before Splatt laid the ball off to Schafer who saw his fierce effort superbly blocked as it was heading for the bottom corner.
A long ball from Seaden was next to give Margate a chance as the ball bounced through to Splatt who rounded the keeper, only to run out of room and see his effort smack into the side netting.
For all their chances, Margate were dealt a sucker punch in the 85th minute as a Connor Wilkins header fell on the edge of the box to Jeche who again let fly from 25-yards into the bottom corner to condemn the Blues to a second straight defeat.
Margate XI: Seaden, Ossai, Njie (Wilkins 71’), Thomas, Adewoju, Splatt, Schafer, Belboda (Huke 51’), O’Mara, Dalton, Sithole (O’Mara-Knapp 71’)
Subs not used: Garande, Oluwatimilehin
Margate Goalscorer
Will Thomas 51’
Attendance
252
