Gate Sign Off Pre-Season With Hythe Win

Margate FC signed off pre-season in style with a comprehensive 5-2 victory over Hythe Town at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.

The final 90 minutes for Manager Jay Saunders to assess his squad’s preparations for the 2019/20 campaign, it proved to be a productive fixture against an outfit hotly tipped for success in their own division.

After a relatively even spell with both teams enjoy equal amounts of time on the ball, it was the visitors who almost broke the deadlock. Margate keeper Jon Miles pulled off a smart save in a 1 v 1, after the Hythe attacker managed to beat the offside trap to fortune the opportunity.

Minutes later Hythe did seal the game’s opening goal. Catching The Gate off guard with a short corner, the in-swinging delivery from the right-hand side landed amongst a midst of bodies in the box.

Whilst Miles looked to have been bundled over in the process, centre-back Ollie Rowe’s headed effort was awarded, and Hythe took the lead.

Moments later, the hosts crafted their best opportunity. After some patient play in possession by Dan Johnson and Ben Swift, the ball moved upfield through a great combination by Michael Abnett and Adem Ramaden before Kadell Daniel was unleashed down the right wing. 

The Margate frontman drove towards goal, shaking off the attention of the Hythe backline to rattle the bar with his powerful strike.

An equaliser was scored minutes later courtesy of a slick attacking move. Chris Sessengon pulled the strings in midfield to find team-mate Jack Richards whose instinctive flick found Daniel who made no mistake with the finish.

The bar was rattled again by Margate as Ramaden picked up possession and fired a shot on target from the outskirts of the penalty area. 

As Margate began to up the tempo of their attacking play, Jordy Robins was upended in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Richards stepped up to ruthlessly dispatch the opportunity, skilfully picking his spot to curl the ball beyond the outstretched palm of the Hythe keeper.

After the break, it was more of the same for the hosts who looked dangerous upon each attacking move. Ramaden enforced a save from a glancing header but Margate were caught out by the subsequent counter attack.

The visitors attacked with pace and intent, picking a hole amongst the Margate backline to exploit space and secure an equaliser.  

Margate didn’t grant their opponents long to savour their goal as minutes later they regained the lead. 

Noel Leighton’s menacing work up top resulted in a spot-kick when the frontman was dragged to ground just yards from goal. Daniel stepped up to take the penalty and coolly converted.

Right-back Abnett almost extended Margate’s lead with a rocket shot from 25 yards out as Margate displayed encouraging attacking options across the pitch.

Daniel almost bagged a hat-trick when his neat turn and equally neat strike skirted the side-netting.

Skipper Swift almost made it onto the scoresheet too, after he got a powerful head onto a pinpoint Richards’ corner, but the effort whistled over the crossbar. 

Richards found the back of the net again later on with a fine solo goal that oozed quality. Showing quick, sharp feet, the Margate attacker maneuvered his way into the Hythe penalty area manufacturing space to fire the ball beyond the Hythe goalkeeper.

A fifth goal was scored by youngster Jordan Ababio who finished a fine move by team-mate James Jeffrey whose positive run down the right channel was rewarded.

Hythe showed threatening glimpses throughout the afternoon and Margate had to remain focused and organised so as not to concede against an outfit who looked dangerous and well-drilled in glimpses. 

Miles was called into action to make a decent point-blank save as Margate’s defence successfully oversaw a succession of corners without too much concern being caused.

The whistle blew on an entertaining run-out at HDP and drew a close to an unbeaten pre-season for Margate.

A positive result but more importantly a positive performance with no injuries sustained ahead of Saturday’s BetVictor Isthmian League opener against Brightlingsea Regent. To purchase your ticket for that game, please click here.

Margate: Miles, Porter, Swift ©, Johnson, Abnett (Ashley), Robins (Ebazoeme), Sessegnon (Ababio), Richards (Hatfull), Leighton (Jeffrey), Daniel, Ramaden (Oyenuga)

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