'Gate Defeated By Invicta

By Jack Waters, Full 'O' Football Podcast

Margate made four changes as Reece Prestedge and Ben Greenhalgh took charge of their first game after the departure of Andy Drury.

Defender Harrison Hatfull returned to the squad, whilst Ade Cole also returned after serving a three match suspension, whilst Peter Ojemen and Sam Blackman missed out through suspension themselves.

The Blues got off to the worst possible start as they fell behind within two minutes as Ian Draycott rose highest from their first corner to head the hosts in front. The Blues looked to hit back in the 16th minute as Cole’s wonderful cross was superbly headed home by Harry Hudson, only for the assistant to waive offside as the goal was chalked off.

Stand in joint manager Greenhalgh tried to lift the Blues again as he saw his shot whistle wide as the ‘Gate looked to force their way back into the game. The Blues felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 30th minute as a Greenhalgh effort from a free-kick appear to be handles, however the referee waived play on as the Blues looked to keep pushing forward.

Despite their efforts to get back in the game, the visitors found themselves 2-0 down heading at the break as former ‘Gate Defender Nathan Green went on a mazy run down the left before firing past Daniel Jinadu to make it 2-0 at half-time.

The hosts started the second half with the ascendency as a cross from the left almost fell to Ade Yussuf, however he failed to connect as the Blues survived from going further behind. It wasn’t long before the ‘Gate did fall further behind as Green just beat Cameron Brodie to the ball on the touchline before rolling across to Draycott to make it a miserable New Year’s Bank Holiday for the travelling Blues fans.

The hosts looked to be purring and almost made it 4-0 as Ibrahim Olutade raced through and put the ball just wide, just moments before having a goal ruled out for offside as the Blues struggled to contain the pace of the Invicta attack.

The hosts added a fourth six minutes from time as Yusuff took the ball down and slotted it past Jinadu to condemn the ‘Gate to their heaviest defeat of the season so far.

Margate XI: Jinadu, Hatfull (Kaiser 77’), Brodie, Hudson, Cole, Smith, Bessey-Saldanha (Deslandes 77’), Greenhalgh, Barton, Oke, Herschel (MacArthur 45’)

Subs not used: Sutcliffe, Procopi

Attendance

1,179

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