Margate bounce back with home win|22.01.22

Margate bounce back with home win|22.01.22

Match report

On Saturday The Blues faced Corinthian Casuals at Hartsdown Park for their Isthmian League Premier Division match.

From kick off both sides were eager to gain the edge by holding the ball and using their possession intelligently. The game was end to end from the get go but both sides initially struggled to break through and get any chances on goal. Margate were looking to bounce back from last weeks home defeat, they showed this with their persistence all over the pitch.

The Casuals had the first significant chance of the match in the 17th minute. They broke on the counter attack and the ball was crossed into the box to Oliver Sitch, whose header wasn't quite enough to beat Billy Johnson.

The teams were locked in a stalemate and neither side could penetrate into the attacking third with any real threat. The battle was mostly amongst the midfield as they fought to gain control and build an attack.

The Blues broke on the counter attack in the 26th minute and scored the first goal of the game. Vance Bola received the ball in the middle of the pitch and turned looking to play James Bessey-Saldanha through on goal. Bola chipped the ball over the Casuals defence but Bessey-Saldanha let it pass as he was offside. Sam Blackman came running through picking up the loose ball and running in on goal, he calmly took it on his right and curled it around the keeper to the bottom right corner.

Margate 1-0 Corinthian Casuals.

After the first goal the game settled again as both teams struggled to gain the edge. Margate had the next close chance of the game in the 39th minute. Ben Greenhalgh crossed the ball into the box, Blackman arrived to get his head to the cross but just turned it wide of the post.

The first half ended Margate 1-0 Corinthian Casuals.

The second half kicked off and the Casuals were on the attack right away trying to get back into the game with an early goal. Their tenacity paid off just two minutes into the second half when they levelled the score with a goal. On the attack the ball was taken into Margate's box. Alfie Bendle saw an opening and fired a shot at Johnson who saved this initial effort, the ball rebounded back to the six yard box where Bendle was waiting and he tapped it in. The casuals were now back in the game and it was all to play for at HDP.

Margate 1-1 Corinthian Casuals.

 After getting themselves level, Corinthian Casuals were more aggressive on the attack and tried to put the pressure on Margate hoping for a chance. The Blues kept up a staunch defence in the face of the Casuals' refreshed tenacity. Both sides were once again battling across the middle of the pitch to gain control but neither team could take the advantage. Despite some promising movements and spells of possession by both teams, neither could break into the final third and threaten the goal.

Margate had the next significant chance of the match in the 69th minute. Greenhalgh picked up the ball at the halfway line and noticed Crossley Lema making a trademark run down the left wing. Greenhalghs diagonal ball dropped right into Lema who took the ball in stride and into the box. Lema cut in past the right back and let loose a powerful shot but it was inches off the mark and hit the side netting.

The Blues started to take more control of the game and were starting to look after possession. In the 76th minute Margate won a freekick on the corner of the opposition box. The freekick was on the right of the goal so Greenhalgh would be curling the ball in towards the goal. Greenhalghs cross curled over the defence and into the far post where Ken Feyi was arriving. Feyi charged in to get the ball and rose just above the crowd to head it home. With his first touch of the game Feyi had put Margate back in the lead and right in front of the home fans behind the goal.

Margate 2-1 Corinthian Casuals.

The Blues were back in front but they still had some time left in the game to defend their lead. The visitors were not going down without a fight and from kick off were immediately pressing Margate trying to force an error. The visitors were causing some trouble for The Blues but still couldn't break into the attacking third to threaten the hosts goal.

Disaster struck for the visitors in the 82nd minute when a scuffle ensued in the middle of the pitch following a challenge for the ball. The referee got control of the players and handed out two yellows for the players at the centre of the issue. The referee also ended up sending off a Corinthian Casuals player after giving him two yellows during the incident. The Casuals were now down to 10 men.

In the 87th minute it looked as though Margate were about to seal the deal and score their third goal. A through ball was knocked over the Casuals defence and down the right. Harrison Hatfull was beaten to the ball but as the defender was shielding it out for a goal kick, Hatfull slides in at the last second and poked the ball into the box. Greenhalgh picked the ball up and let loose trying to curl the ball into the far post. The keeper dived out to the shot and pushed it away making a great save.

In the 90th minute Margate consolidated their lead and effectively secured the three points. Bessey-Saldanha had made a run into the box with two defenders giving chase. He faked turning into the right and turned out to his left, just as he did so he was cut down inside the area. Bessey-Saldanha had won a penalty and Greenhalgh stepped up to take. Greenhalgh was calm in front of the ball and smashed it into the bottom corner.

Margate 3-1 Corinthian Casuals.

After a thrilling second half of football The Blues emerged victorious and secured the three points.

Margate XI: Billy Johnson, Crossley Lema, Joe Anderson, Montel Agyemang, Lewis Knight, Ben Swift, Martial Godo, Sam Blackman, James Bessey-Saldanha, Vance Bola, Ben Greenhalgh.

Subs: Harrison Hatfull(68’), Shaun Nketiah, Jack Richards, Benas Vaivada, Ken Feyi(75’).

Goal Scorers: Sam blackman(26’), Ken Feyi (76’), Ben Greenhalgh(90).

Attendance: 454.

By Tommy Park

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