'Gate Earn Last Gasp Win

Margate moved to within seven points of the Isthmian Premier Division play-offs as they earnt a last gasp win over Horsham at Hartsdown Park as Defender Lewis Knight netted a 93rd minute winner.

The hosts welcomed back goalkeeper Ben Bridle-Card in goal, however new loanee Joe Gbode had to settle for a place on the bench as Manager Jay Saunders continued with the exciting trio of Ben Greenhalgh, Martial Godo and James Bessey-Saldanha in attacking positions.

It was to be a cagey first half with both sides looking to put a run together to attack those play-off places that lay ahead of them. The Blues had the first chance as Sam Blackman connected with a Greenhalgh cross only to see his header narrowly go over the Horsham bar.

It was Godo and Bessey-Saldanha who linked up for the ‘Gate’s next chance on 19 minutes only for the latter to see his shot go wide of the post as Margate looked to assert home advantage. It was the hosts that had the best chance of an otherwise dour first half as Captain Ben Swift saw his header from Greenhalgh’s delightful cross crash off the crossbar.

Margate would have felt they had the best chances in the opening 45 minutes, however it was the visitors who started the second half much brighter as Shamir Fenelon broke through in the first minute and saw his first effort blocked by Bridle-Card, before his rebound effort was superbly blocked by a Margate defender.

Horsham looked dangerous as Margate struggled to deal with Fenelon who again raced through in the 52nd minute only to see his chipped effort hit the crossbar as the visitors showed more attacking intent in the first six minutes of the second half as they had the whole of the first 45.

In response to the Horsham pressure the Blues introduced Vance Bola and new striker Gbode into the mix and it almost had the perfect effect as Gbode pounced onto a poor Tom Day back pass to race through only to be denied by the brave goalkeeping of Sam Howes.

The clock was ticking away with both sides knowing that a point each wouldn’t really help their play-off chase cause.

Bola and Vaivada had half chances, whilst Harding saw a fierce strike blocked but the game looked destined to finish 0-0 until almost the final kick of the game as Greeenhalgh delivered another delicious ball into the box from a Margate free-kick which was nodded down by Gbode to the feet of Knight who swivelled to slam the ball home to send the majority of the 580 crowd into pandemonium as the Blues secured all three points.

Margate return to action on Tuesday evening as they face Leatherhead away with kick off at 7:45pm.

MARGATE: Bridle-Card, Lema, Anderson, Agyemang, Knight, Swift, Godo (Gbode 63’), Blackman, Bessey-Saldanha (Vaivada 75’), Hatfull (Bola 62’), Greenhalgh

Subs Not Used: Lamb, Johnson

Margate Goalscorer

Lewis Knight 93’

Margate Man of the Match

Lewis Knight

Attendance

580