'Gate Leave North London Empty Handed

By Riley Finch

Margate were unable to capitalise on last week’s victory with Jorge Djassi-Sambu’s acrobatic finish denying the ‘Gate a deserved point at the CVS Stadium Coles Park.

After getting to the byline, a dangerous ball in is cleared towards defender Djassi-Sambu who cuts across the ball, firing it into the top corner of Harry Seaden’s goal in what was the only goal of the game.

Steve Cawley did come close to an equaliser, slipped through by Kadell Daniel, Cawley latched onto the ball but his curled effort was well saved by Dillon Barnes.

In a game scarce of clearcut chances, Margate thought they would be handed the ultimate lifeline after a well worked cross ricocheted off one Borough player to the outstretched hand of another. Despite bewildered ‘Gate protests from both the fans and the players, the referee remained unfazed, and play was made to continue.

The Gate’ tried to push for a last-minute equaliser, but cross after cross was defended well by Haringey’s daunting centre-back partnership to hold out for all three points.

If Margate were to score, it should’ve come in the first half in which we dominated the ball.

With our opponents happy to sit back and defend, Mark Stimson’s side were able to move the ball well and create meticulously carved chances.

In the second half, however, affairs became more scrappy and our time on the ball was limited with our opponents tighter to us and more willing to press.

It will certainly feel as a massive opportunity missed for the Gate’ having played so well in our victory over Canvey Island but despite the loss things continue to look up for us.

Captain Sam Blackman returned to action today after over a month on the sidelines, he was subbed on in the 65th minute. Also, today marked the first time in which Stimson had named the same consecutive starting eleven since becoming Margate manager over three months ago.

The eleven included just five players from the original squad Stimson inherited and he was keen to point out in his post-match interview that: “This is the best squad I’ve had since I’ve been here.”

After weeks of chopping and changing, departures and arrivals, Stimson seems to have found his best team going forward as we look to climb up the table.

Margate: 1 Harry Seaden, 2 Rio Davidson-Phipps, 3 Toby Stevenson, 4 Yaser Kasim (Sam Blackman 65'), 5 Tyrone Sterling, 6 Harry Hudson, 9 Steve Cawley, 10 Kadell Daniel (Michael Dome-Bemwim 76'), 11 Ben Greenhalgh, 15 Mohamed Kamara, 20 Teddy Perkins

Unused Subs: 13 Reece Hobbs, 19 Lewis Knight, 12 Fyn Rutherford

Attendance: 537

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