Horsham (H) - 2nd March 2024

By Josh Cole

Back at Hartsdown Park tomorrow for more league action, this time we take on Horsham for matchday #32 of the Isthmian Premier Division!

Last time out we suffered a narrow away defeat to Haringey Borough. Read the full match report from that game by clicking here.

It is women’s weekend at Hartsdown Park meaning all women will get free admission into the men’s game tomorrow and the Margate women’s cup semi-final on Sunday to celebrate international women’s day on Friday the 7th of March!

OPPONENTS SEASON SO FAR:

Horsham currently sit just one place outside the playoff positions in sixth. Despite only being two points shy of Enfield Town in fifth, the Hornets have three games in hand on the teams above them. The Sussex side started off the season with a 1-2 loss against Hornchurch. They then notched up three straight wins before they lost away to Whitehawk 3-1. A win against struggling Cheshunt and a draw against Billericay came before a loss against fellow promotion chasers, Wingate & Finchley. Two away wins against Carshalton and Kingstonian kept Horsham in and around the top ten despite playing less games than most teams around them due to their magical FA Cup run, which included facing league one side Barnsley in the first-round proper. As they began to hit top form in the cup competitions, their league form took a slight hit, with a loss to Hashtag and a draw against Concord Rangers sandwiching a win against us at the Hornets home ground, 1-0. They started to get back on track with a win against Canvey, a draw against high-flying Chatham, and a win against Folkestone but the good form abruptly ended with a loss to Bognor Regis. After the loss to Bognor, Horsham went four more games without winning (three draws and one loss) but they bounced back into good form after a win against Potters Bar. That win proved to be the turning point, as Horsham then went on an incredible run, winning five games out of their last seven, including one draw and their last match which was a loss to fellow Sussex side Lewes in a derby.

You can view the full league standings by clicking here.

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

Loss vs Hastings United, away (4-0) League

Loss vs Dulwich Hamlet, home (1-4) League

Loss vs Chatham Town, away (2-1) League

Win vs Canvey Island, home (3-2) League

Loss vs Haringey Borough, away (1-0) League

LAST FIVE: HORSHAM

Draw vs Wingate & Finchley, home (1-1) League

Win vs Haringey Borough, home (1-0) League

Win vs Billericay Town, away (1-2) League

Loss vs Lewes, home (1-3) League

Win vs Steyning Town Community, away (1-4) Sussex County Cup Semi-Final

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Between the ‘Gate and the Hornets, there have been eight matches, which Horsham have the upper hand in winning five, with Margate only managing two wins and one game ending in a draw. In the reverse fixture, as mentioned earlier, we suffered a 1-0 defeat away due to a late 87th minute winner. We will be looking to avenge that game and get three points back on home soil to aid our bid for safety.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

The referee at Hartsdown Park will be Benjamin McDonald, with his assistants being Krystian Kaczala and Benjamin Marshall.

Not able to make it to HDP? Keep your eyes peeled on our official X account @Margate_fc for live match updates commencing from 2:15pm onwards!

UP THE ‘GATE

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