Blues Start With Thrilling Draw

Margate started pre-season with a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Deal Town at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon in sweltering conditions.

Reece Prestedge named a mixture of new signings and trialists as he prepares for the 2023/24 Isthmian Premier League campaign. New signings Damian Niemczycki and Tyrone Sterling featured alongside retained Sam Blackman, Harry Hudson, Rory Sutcliffe and Harvey Smith.

It was the visitors who started brightly as they created two chances in the opening eight minutes of the game. Deal continued to look stronger and they opened the scoring in the 19th minute as they bundled the ball home at a second attempt.

Margate almost levelled immediately as a trialists unleashed a fierce effort which was superbly tipped onto the bar and away for corner. Blues winger Sutcliffe was next to force a chance as he dribbled forward but saw his shot dragged wide.

Deal doubled their advantage just seconds before the break as Alfie Foster forced the ball home as Margate went in 2-0 down at half-time.

Prestedge introduced regular full-backs Archie Johnson and Harrison Hatfull as well as Ben Greenhalgh and new striker Steve Cawley in the second half as they looked to get back into the game. It was another trialist though that almost halved the deficit as a thunderous header crashed back off the crossbar.

Margate did get a goal back in the 54th minute as Hatfull squared a decent ball back to another trialist who slotted home to reduce the deficit. Ben Greenhalgh saw a good opportunity well saved before the ‘Gate did level as Fyn Rutherford delivered a beautiful cross which was wonderfully headed home by Cawley.

Cawley had the ball in the net moments later, however the linesman’s flag denied the striker a second goal of the afternoon. Despite a dominating period of play from the Blues, the visitors retook the lead in the 73rd minute as a loose ball in the box was smashed home to put them 3-2 ahead.

Assistant Manager Greenhalgh was not to be denied his goal though as he linked up with a trialists before perfectly slamming the ball home to level the game with seven minutes remaining.

There was to be no further action as both sides settled for a draw in humid conditions.

Goalscorers

Trialist 54’

Cawley 64’

Greenhalgh 83’

Margate are back at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night as they face Canterbury City with kick-off at 7:45pm. Tickets for this game can be purchased by clicking here.

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