U23's Bounce Back With Convincing Victory

By Paul Meade

Margate U23’s bounced back to winning ways with an empathetic 5-1 away victory at Staplehurst.

Nothing short of a victory was required to maintain pressure at the top. The game started well for the ‘Gate and had their first shot after only three minutes from the hardworking Reece Greig.

And it was less than ten mins later they took the lead, when Fenn Roberts rose at the far post from, man of the match, Nathan Geddes’, free kick, to head home.

There was a scare in the 14th minute, when Staplehurst’s lively winger was through on goal, but the ever impressive ‘Gate 'keeper, Alfie Langford, pulled off a fine save.

The lead was doubled on in the 24th minute, when Loui Hoxha received a through ball from Morgan Page, and the young midfielder slotted home.

Margate’s continued pressure was rewarded a third time, in the 37th minute, when a fierce shot from Grieg could only be parried by the ‘keeper, and Charlie Meade drilled home the rebound.

The opposition did give themselves a foothold back into the game on the stroke of half time, after a lack of concentration allowed a scrappy goal to be conceded.

The second half continued with the same sustained Margate pressure, with shots from Chidu, Geddes and Raj all troubling the ‘keeper.

It was an individual turn and shot from 25-yards by Charlie Meade, whose second goal made the game safe at 1-4.

The ‘Gate weren’t finished though, with further good work from Danny Martin and Kodie Bristow allowing for Hoxha’s second, as he curled a right footed shot into the corner making it 1-5 and capping off an amazing performance.

Margate needed this boost in confidence to keep the title race hanging in the balance of the Blues, as they sit three points clear with only two games to go in the season!

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