Margate and Hastings United battled to an entertaining 2-2 draw at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday evening in the Isthmian South-East Division.
Margate welcomed back Finn O’Mara into the starting XI, whilst Elliott Duncan and new signings Malachi Mbogba made their home debuts.
The ‘Gate started like a train and were ahead inside two minutes as Hassan Nalbant wrestled his way clear and calmly fired past the Hastings keeper to give Margate an early lead.
That was the start of a frantic evening as both sides served up an entertaining evening for the 401 crowd. Hastings delivered a long throw that had Margate on their toes – even reaching the six yard box from the halfway line.
The ‘Gate should have been 2-0 up in the 20th minute as Duncan’s strike looked destined to hit the back of the net, however he was superbly denied.
Mbogba hit the side netting when through on the right, before Joe Tyrie saw an effort deflect inches wide.
Duncan was again denied before Hastings thought they had levelled, only for the offside flag to be raised. Minutes later the ‘Gate thought they were 2-0 up as Stanley Oldfield saw an incredible left footed shot saved wonderfully as the game ebbed from end to end.
For all their chances, Margate were pegged back in the 39th minute as Mitchell Chapman headed home from a corner to make it 1-1 at the break.
There is no doubt that Hastings started the second half much better as Harry Seaden superbly saved an effort to keep the scores level.
The long throw was eventually going to undo Margate as a long throw was headed home by Matthew Chalmers in the 66th minute to give the high flyers a 2-1 lead.
Tyrie was again denied by a brilliant block as Margate wrestled back the initiative. In the 71st minute, just five minutes after falling behind the Blues were level as Will Thomas smashed home at the back post from a corner to bring the scores level with still 19 minutes remaining.
Bradley Schafer then saw a brilliant effort blocked as it was heading goalwards.
In the 95th minute an incredible save from Seaden denied Max Walsh and Hastings United a certain winner as both sides settled for a point on an entertaining evening.
Margate XI: Seaden, Hamill, Adewoju (Thomas 67’), Iandolo (Oluwatimilehin 85’), Schafer, Oldfield, Duncan (Sithole 90’), O’Mara, Tyrie, Mbogba, Nalbant (Splatt 67’)
Subs not used: Caney-Bryan
Margate Goalscorer’s
Hassan Nalbant 2’
Will Thomas 71’
Attendance
401
