Margate drop points against The Casuals

By Tommy Park

On Tuesday night, Margate played away against Corinthian-Casuals in the Isthmian League Premier Division in a 3-1 defeat.

Margate were coming off a great run of form with four wins on the trot before they travelled to Corinthian-Casuals for a Tuesday night game. The Blues missed out on the points this week in a frustrating defeat to the Casuals.

The Blues started the game strong, and much like the previous matches they were getting stuck in and trying to establish themselves by dominating on the attack. The Casuals were prepared for the Margate onslaught and defended well and used Margate's pressing to their advantage by trying to catch Margate out on the counterattack.

Margate would have the first significant chance when Ben Greenhalgh crossed the ball from the left and found Vance Bola, who got his head to it but couldn't quite get over it and he headed it over the bar.

Margate found themselves caught out in the 11th minute when a long ball went over the Margate back line and found Corinthian attacker Bobby Mills, who brought the ball down and rifled it past keeper Pat Ohman.

1-0 Corinthian-Casuals

After the goal The Blues struggled to get a foothold in the game and were defending an onslaught of attacks from the Casuals, despite some great play from the midfield Margate struggled to get a significant attack in.

The Casuals would strike again in the 26th minute when wingback Emmanuel Mensah made a run down the line and whipped in a low cross. Pat Ohman and Lewis Knight both go for the ball, but in an unfortunate turn of events the ball found its way into the Margate net as it came off Knight.

2-0 Corinthian-Casuals

Disaster strikes in the 40th minute when a long ball goes over the Margate defence and Ohman calls for it. Joe Anderson leaves the ball, but before Ohman can clear it Casuals striker Warren Mfula nipped in and flicked the ball over Ohman and passed it into the net.

3-0 Corinthian-Casuals

Margate were trailing behind 3-0 going into half time.

The second half kicked off and The Blues seemed to be renewed with energy and determination to not give up without a fight.

The Blues would defend with renewed tenacity and hold off attacks from the Casuals. Margate brought one back in the 61st minute when Bola flicked the ball into Greenhalgh who

cut inside from the left and curled a long shot over the Corinthian-Casuals keeper and into the far top corner.

They had brought one back and the score was now 3-1.

Despite multiple attempts in the second half, The Blues just couldn't get the ball into the net. Margate came desperately close in the 80th minute when Bola crossed in a low ball that went into the path of Daniel Thompson who couldn't quite get a shot off.

Margate would hold off attacks from the home side but could not get themselves back into the match.

The match ended 3-1.

Margate XI: Pat Ohman, Crossley Lema, Joe Anderson, Bivesh Gurung, Lewis Knight, Ben Swift, James Bessey-Sadanha, Sam Blackman, Vance Bola, Monel Agyemang, Ben Greenhalgh.

Subs: Owen Kallmeier, Harrison Hatfull(75’), Ryan Palmer, Daniel Thompson(46’), Martial Godo(65’).

Goalscorer: Ben Greenhalgh (61’)