Hastings United (H) - 24th October 2023

By Ryan Day 

Margate welcome Hastings United to Hartsdown Park on Tuesday evening as they look to build upon a positive week in the Isthmian Premier Division.

After a run of four losses in a row, the Blues have had a better week after beating Chatham Town last Tuesday, before rescuing a point against Hashtag United on Saturday with Steve Cawley scoring a sensational leveller in the fifth minute of additional time.

Margate still sit 15th in the division, however having played two games less than the majority of teams around them. A victory on Tuesday could see the ‘Gate climb into the top half of the division.

Tuesday’s visitors have endured a torrid few weeks with four defeats in a row, albeit three of those defeats have come against sides currently residing in the league’s play-off places.

The ‘U’s’ dispensed of their manager Paul Barnes after defeat to Wingate & Finchley. The Club has also lost several key players over the past few weeks including Femi Akinwande, Quade Taylor and Knory Scott.

Last time these two sides met it was at the Pilots field in February, when a ‘Gate side battling relegation earned a valuable 0-0 draw in Sussex. The last time the two met at Hartsdown Park, it was the visitors who ran out 2-1 winners with a last gasp goal, which turned out to be former Manager Andy Drury’s penultimate game in charge.

Games between these two sides have been few and far between in recent years. Before last year’s league encounters, the sides hadn’t met since 2016 when they faced each other in the FA Cup, Margate eventually progressing after a replay.

The only other previous league meetings in recent history came in 2012, when the two sides both shared the points in both games that season.

Manager Reece Prestedge will hope that Lewis Knight can shake off a back injury he picked up in Saturday’s draw, otherwise there seems to be no further injury issues.

Kick-off at Hartsdown Park is 7:45pm with all Under 18’s admitted free into Hartsdown Park.

Tickets can be purchased in advance here; the turnstiles open at 6:30pm.

If you can’t make it, you can follow live updates on X @margate_fc from 7:15pm.

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