Gate's Unbeaten Start Ended By Cheshunt

By Tom Morris

Our first home game in October ended in defeat as a resolute Cheshunt snatched all three points at Hartsdown Park to end the Gates unbeaten start to the season.

Manager Saunders made two changes from the team that drew with Leatherhead as Archie Burnett was restored to the centre midfield role and Jack Richards started at fullback to replace the injured Chris Sessegnon.

The early exchanges were tentative with both teams looking to control possession in the middle of the park; Bancroft and Evans (7&8’) had crosses well cleared and at the other end Mo Camara rattled the crossbar with a bullet header from an Cheshunt corner (11’). Camara went close ahead with another header in the 18th minute and was proving to be a handful for the Gate defence.

Toby Bancroft worked some space for a cross that was well cleared (28’) before we had our best chance of the half as John Ufuah collected the ball (31’) and sent a curling effort towards goal from 20 yards that Gore tipped onto the crossbar and out for a corner! The half ended with little more action, stalemate at the break.

The second half could not have started any worse for the Gate as right form the kick-off Mo Camara ran through the left side of the defence and slotted the ball past Vose. 1-0 to our visitors after 15 seconds of the restart!

Margate recovered and we had our best chance of an equaliser in the 55th minute as Jack Richards pinged a corner to Ben Swift who had peeled off his marker to volley at goal. The effort was firmly struck but the keeper managed to push the ball onto the post. Moments late our visitors made the most of a set piece as David Knight (55’) arrowed a free kick into the top corner to make the score 2-0.

Manager Saunders reacted by bringing on Noel Leighton (61’) for Freddy Moncur and the striker almost scored with a near post effort from another Jack Richards corner in the 71st minute. Further changes followed as Samuel Egole and Luke Carey replaced Archie Burnett and Toby Bancroft but despite a late chance from a corner the players could not find a way past Gore and his defenders.

In the pouring rain, and after 4 minutes of stoppage time, the referee ended the game that resulted in a disappointing 2-0 defeat.

Margate: Vose, Richards, Porter, Prestedge, Friend, Swift ©, Evans, Burnett, Ufuah, Moncur, Bancroft.

Subs: Kallmeier, Egolo (Bancroft 65’), Leighton (Moncur 61’), Steele, Carey (Burnett 73’)

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