Margate’s September struggles continued at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon as they blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Punjab United.
Manager Jamie Coyle named new signings Perri Iandolo, Joe Tyrie and Michael Ademiluyi in his starting XI, whilst David Adewoju, Olu Oluwatimilehin, Gibou Njie, Johan Caney-Bryan and Javaun Splatt were all missing.
Margate took the lead in the 14th minute as a low cross from Bradley Schafer found its way through to Ronald Sithole who made no mistake as he put the ‘Gate ahead in the September sunshine.
Sithole was looking lively and almost set up Connor Wilkins for a second with a wicked cross, however Wilkins glanced his header wide as Margate looked to assert themselves.
They didn’t have to wait much longer to double their lead as a corner caused some carnage with the ball bouncing around before new signing Tyrie knocked the ball home to give the ‘Gate a commanding lead.
Sithole could have made it 3-0 before the break as he superbly took down a long ball forward from Harry Seaden before seeing his low drive saved.
The ‘Gate were stunned a minute before the break as Punjab halved the deficit with a goal that seemed to happen in slow motion as a ball into the box should have been cleared, however it looked like both Margate players left it for each other allowing Hudson Scudder to knock it in to an empty net.
For all their positives in the first half, Margate were on the ropes in the second half and were unable to create any clear chances.
For all of Punjab’s dominance, Margate were lucky that their finishing left a lot to be desired as they missed chance after chance as Margate rode their luck.
The ‘Gate’s luck wasn’t going to hold out though as they dropped deeper and deeper allowing Punjab to take full control and eventually level in the 79th minute as Lea Dawson headed home a corner to silence the Blues.
Three minutes later and the ‘Gate should have been behind in truth as a goalmouth scramble somehow was hacked away as Margate looked completely beaten.
Punjab saw another effort hacked off the line, before seeing a 90th minute effort from the left whistle wide as Margate clung on for a point on another disappointing afternoon at Hartsdown Park.
Margate XI: Seaden, Thomas, Iandolo (Ossai 53’), Schafer, Ademiluyi, Williams, O’Mara, Dalton, Wilkins, Tyrie, Sithole (Huke 90’)
Subs not used: Hall, Njie, Caney-Bryan
Margate Goalscorer’s
Ronald Sithole 14’
Joe Tyrie 35’
Attendance
495
