Phoenix Sports (A) - 30th November 2024

THE VENUE: The Mayplace Ground, Mayplace Road East, Bexleyheath, Greater London, DA7 6JT.

By Josh Cole

The ‘Gate travel to Phoenix Sports for matchday #18 of the Isthmian South-East Division!

Last time out we were knocked out of the Velocity Trophy in the third round by Sheppey United. Read the match report from that game by clicking here.

New signing: We have signed defender, Ronnie Vint, as extra cover for our matchday squad, similiar to our signing of Emmanuel Oke in October!

PHOENIX SPORTS – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

Sports currently sit at the foot of the table on seven points from 17 games. In the FA Cup extra preliminary round they were knocked out by Epsom & Ewell after the first game ended in a 0-0 draw, the replay at The Mayplace Ground ended 1-3. In their first four games in the league they went winless, only drawing against Three Bridges, and losing the rest as well as being knocked out in the Velocity Trophy first round away at Sevenoaks (3-0).

Then they suffered a 6-0 defeat away at Uxbridge in the FA Trophy first qualifying round and another heavy loss away at Sittingbourne (4-0). Two more losses came in the league against East Grinstead and Lancing before their first win of the season came against Folkestone Invicta on penalties in the Kent Senior Cup first round at the end of September.

Phoenix went straight back to losing in the league, as their next five games all ended in losses. Yet another penalty shootout win came against Cray Wanderers in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup and finally, into November, they picked up their first league three points with a 3-2 win against Steyning Town.

Two more losses followed that win, but they won again, two in one month in the league at home to Lancing before their last outing which was a 3-1 away defeat to Sheppey United.

View the league table by clicking here.

LAST FIVE: PHOENIX SPORTS

3-2 Win vs Steyning Town Community, home (league)

0-3 Loss vs Sittingbourne, home (league)

4-2 Loss vs East Grinstead Town, away (league)

3-1 Win vs Lancing, home (league)

3-1 Loss vs Sheppey United, away (league)

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

1-1 Draw vs Burgess Hill, home (league)

1-3 Win vs Three Bridges, away (league)

0-6 Win vs Ashford United, away (Velocity Trophy Second Round)

2-2 Draw vs Erith Town, home (league)

2-4 Loss vs Sheppey United, home (Velocity Trophy Third Round)

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS (all comps):

PHOENIX SPORTS:

Matches played: 22

Goals scored: 18

Goals conceded: 59

GD: -41

Clean sheets: 1

MARGATE:

Matches played: 29

Goals scored: 58

Goals conceded: 28

GD: +30

Clean sheets: 12

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Nick Fyfield

Assistants: Harry Cowell & Rikki Woolford

Updates on our X account will be goals, half-time and full-time updates as no media members are able to make it to Bexleyheath so FWP will be generating our updates for this match.

UP THE ‘GATE

Blues Back To Winning Ways

Margate returned to winning ways in the Isthmian South-East Division as they comfortably beat basement side Phoenix Sports 2-0 at Mayplace Road East.

After a 2-2 draw with Erith Town in their last league match, and a Velocity Trophy exit in midweek, Ben Greenhalgh and his side were desperate to return to winning ways, and done so relatively comfortably.

The ‘Gate had to wait until the 35th minute to take the lead as a delightful Max Walsh half-volley put the ‘Gate ahead at the half-time break.

It took the ‘Gate just three minutes of the second half to double their advantage as the clinical Ibrahim Olutade sealed another important three points for the Blues as they continue to hunt down the top two in the division.

Margate XI: Wray, Hatfull, Walsh (Duo 70’), Sterling, Ababio (Muwonge 87’), Brand, Olutade (Atkins 80’), Greenhalgh, Davey, Garande, Vint

Subs not used: Hobbs, Peters

Margate Goalscorer’s

Max Walsh 35’

Ibrahim Olutade 48’

Attendance 

226