Hornchurch (A) - 25th March 2023

By Josh Cole 

Margate are back on the road for another away day as we travel to Upminster, Essex to face the league leaders, Hornchurch, at The Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues suffered a third straight league defeat in a row after losing 1-0 last Saturday at Hartsdown Park against Aveley after a 41st minute goal from Harry Gibbs settled the score. Margate remain in 16th place but with a win from teams below us, the relegation places are only nine points behind.

Hornchurch are sat at the top of the tree, three points clear of both Bishop’s Stortford and Aveley but have a game in hand over their two closest competitors, however dropped two points last weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Haringey Borough.

Margate will be able to welcome back Sam Blackman to midfield, whilst Phil Roberts looks to have won his fitness battle to return to the squad. Taylor Fisher is likely to miss the visit to Hornchurch, whilst Harry Hudson will definitely be missing after his ankle injury away at Bognor Regis. Harrison Hatfull will also be missing after cracking a rib in last weekend’s defeat at home to Aveley.

The ‘Gate and the Urchins have faced twelve times since August 2013, with the Blues winning three, Hornchurch winning five and four ending level. The last three meetings between the two teams, however, have been Hornchurch wins including the last time the teams faced at Hartsdown Park earlier in the season where Hornchurch ran away 3-1 victors.

The last five games for The Urchins have been outstanding with wins against Kingstonian (3-0), Brightlingsea (4-1), and Wingate & Finchley (2-4), whilst picking up points against Lewes (2-2), and Haringey (1-1). As stated earlier, Margate are on a three-game losing streak, suffering defeats against Canvey (5-2), Bognor (1-0), and Aveley (0-1), but the two games before that were wins as we beat Corinthian-Casuals (2-0) and Potters Bar (0-1).

If Hornchurch away isn’t your travel destination for today, tune in to our official twitter @margatefc_ where there will be live match updates from 2:15pm onwards!

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