Delight At Professional Display

Joint Margate Manager, Mike Sandmann was full of praise for his side following their 1-0 victory away at Worthing FC on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking after the game, Sandmann said:

“I thought it was a well-disciplined, professional performance. It was a reverse to our last League game against Lewes, when we came away 1-0 losers despite creating chances and missing a penalty.” 

“For all Worthing’s possession and the way they moved the ball – credit to them, they’re a good footballing side – we are the first team to take three points off them. Not many teams are going to do that this season and I’m really pleased for the players. They thoroughly deserve that for how hard they worked and the way they limited Worthing’s chances.”

In contrast to previous weeks of dominant displays, The Gate were posed with a different kind of challenge against one of the League’s hotly tipped promotion contenders. Sandmann was pleased with the way The Gate went about their business.

“A mistake from us gifted them a penalty, it wasn’t like they carved us open much during the match. I’m pleased the penalty didn’t go in as the group’s work-rate, desire to keep a clean sheet, endeavour to maintain a good shape earned three points”

“We’ve gone back to being hard to beat. We didn’t have as much possession as we have had in previous matches. As much as we want to play good football, dominate games and impose ourselves, sometimes you have to adapt. I think we did that really well today. We spoke about it in training and the boys have executed the plan perfectly.”

Joe Taylor secured the all important-winner for The Gate and there was plenty of praise for the in-form striker.

“Joe deserves to get the winner. In the first half, he did so much unselfish running. I don’t think the referee looked after him. I thought their centre back was all over him and impeded him a lot, but he kept going.”

“That’s three goals in the two games; he’s improving and we’re improving as a group. We’ve now got a better squad where we can bring players off of the bench to make a difference.”

Margate’s management had to tinker with their line up earlier than anticipated courtesy of injuries to Tom Wynter and James Rogers in the first half.

Less than ideal, Sandmann was delighted with the impact coming from the bench, saving particular praise for young centre-back Ben Swift. 

“We were unlucky to lose two influential players and I want to take the opportunity to give credit to Ben Swift. Ben was disappointed to be left out of the starting eleven today and rightly so. I thought he was excellent when he came on and that’s credit to him as a person in our group.”

Leroy Lita made his debut for the club, displaying traits Sandmann thinks will benefit an improving squad.

“I was really pleased with Leroy. You could see straight away that he was organising and putting players in places and he’s calm in possession. Leroy has good experience and he did a fantastic job in a position we asked him to play for the team.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s trip to Tooting and Mitcham, Sandmann revealed Margate’s Under 23s squad will be given an opportunity to showcase themselves in the senior game.

“The 23s will play on Tuesday, it is a fantastic opportunity to see them and we want to promote our 23s to play first team football and what a way to be able to do so than in the trophy. I’m looking forward to that and onto Concord on Saturday.”

“That is going to be a tough trip as they have had a good start. We will need to assess the squad and see what we’ve got but I am confident that we can get it right and give a good game to anybody. On a positive, there is no pressure on us to go there and get a win which is nice sometimes.”

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