Blues Suffer Bruising Defeat At Canvey

Margate were left stunned as they suffered a second half comeback from Canvey Island as they were defeated 5-2 at the Movie Starr Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Reece Prestedge named the same starting eleven that won 1-0 at Potters Bar Town on Tuesday evening, however was dealt a blow in the warm-up as Nathan Wood suffered an ankle injury, meaning Ruben Soares-Junior moved into the starting eleven.

Margate started the game with good intentions as Freddy Barton saw a long range shot fly just over, before Phil Roberts was denied close range by the home ‘keeper in the 11th minute as Margate went in search of an opening goal.

Evans Kouassi looked a threat with his pace and strength up top for the home side, however Daniel Jinadu was equal to his low effort as Margate continued their fine defensive form of late as they reduced the home side to just half chances.

Soares-Junior almost caught Bobby Mason off guard in the Canvey goal as his long range effort needed tipping over before the Blues lost Roberts to injury, he was replaced by Harvey Smith. Despite another injury setback, Margate continued their impressive first half display as Ben Greenhalgh saw a goalwards effort blocked, before one of his wonderful free-kicks needed a stretching dive from Mason to prevent giving the ‘Gate a lead.

Margate were to get their deserved half-time lead though in the 45th minute, as the referee awarded the Blues a penalty which was duly dispatched home by Greenhalgh as Margate led at the break.

Despite their lead, Margate knew that play-off chasing Canvey were not going to roll over and let the Blues travel home with three points easily, and that was exactly the case in the 55th minute as the hosts levelled from a corner as Elliott Ronto headed home. .

Things turned from bad to worse for the ‘Gate three minutes later as the inform Kouassi raced past Harrison Hatfull and Sinn’kaye Christie to strike the hosts into a 2-1 lead. A bad three minutes soon turned into a nightmare six minutes as Bradley Sach saw his effort hit the bar, only to fall to Kouassi who prodded home to make it 3-1.

Margate had a glorious chance to half the margin in the 69th minute as the ball was worked wide before finding its way to Soares-Junior who somehow managed to lift his effort over the bar from six yards out as Margate looked for a way back into the game.

The score line was halved in the 89th minute as a lovely move saw the ball swept out to Freddy Barton who curled a superb effort home to make it 3-2 with still four minutes’ additional time to be played.

Any hopes of a Blues comeback were dashed immediately from the restart as Kouassi sealed his hat-trick with a fine solo goal to dampen the Margate joy just seconds earlier.

Canvey weren’t done there though and rubbed salt in the wounds in the final minute of additional time as birthday boy Bradley Sach got in on the action to secure the hosts a 5-2 victory.

MARGATE Xl: Jinadu, Hatfull, Christie, Hudson, Blackman, Soares-Junior, Roberts (Smith 39’), Greenhalgh, Barton, Ojemen

Subs not used: Fisher, Sutcliffe, Wood, Oke

Margate Goalscorer’s

Ben Greenhalgh 45’ (PEN)

Freddy Barton 89’

Attendance

461

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