U23's Draw At Home To Unbeaten Maidstone

By Paul Meade

Margate U23's gave a fantastic and best performance of the season so far with some excellent high pressing and controlled passing game.

They knew they had to be at their very best against an unbeaten Maidstone team and the high intensity pressing took the visitors by surprise and although neither side had any early chances it was The 'Gate that took a deserved lead.

Leading goalscorer Woody Pitman and Winger Iman Alam, pressed both centre-backs into a poor back pass and Pitman capitalised on the Maidstone 'keeper slotting home from close range on 32 mins.

HT 1-0

The second half saw a more resurgent Maidstone start the brighter and a lack of concentration allowed the right wingers cross to be stabbed home an early equaliser just three mins after the restart.

This set back however was short lived and with a much more positive, improved and determined 'Gate squad not letting up with the high press and were rewarded again by a great cross field pass from Tom Handley that found the in form Iman taking his first touch superbly and turning onto his left to drive home a deserved second goal in the 53rd minute.

This knocked back the opposition and Margate really should have gone onto finish the game and thought they had done enough to win.

However a right wing through ball found the oppositions striker who fell over his own feet then into Blake Winters dive which the ref wasted no time in awarding a penalty. Despite Winter diving the right way he was beaten with the power of the shot to bring the scores back level.

The young 'Gate side did not react well to this and for the first time were under immense pressure with Maidstone now searching for a winner.

There was a brilliant one handed save from Blake Winter in the 83rd min tipping over the bar a certain goal.

It’s a testament Margate's development that they saw out the game for a thoroughly deserved point against a team that will be certainly be in the top two come the end of the season.

FT 2-2

Post match interview with Margate U23's manager Tur Hoxha after Fridays nights 2-2 draw with Maidstone Utd.

After the game this was the managers reaction.

“I thought the boys were absolutely fantastic tonight. Great energy and high intensity in the first half stopping Maidstone playing out from the back. The whole squad worked hard for each other and stuck to their tasks and I am very happy although the boys deserved 3 points tonight.

"It was a team performance but also some fantastic individual performances and definitely something to continue to build on as It's all about developing young players to achieve the best they can be for themselves.”

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