Blues Beaten by Bognor

Margate fell to their third straight away defeat in the league as they were humbled 4-1 by Bognor Regis Town at Nyewood Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues were able to welcome back Lewis Knight at centre-half, but were still without Crossley Lema and Joe Anderson through injury, and Captain Ben Swift through suspension.

In truth, Margate never really got going in Sussex as a bumper crowd gathered to celebrate Non-League Day, as well as the hosts being managed for the first time by former Burnley and Leeds striker Robbie Blake.

The Blues fell behind in just the seventh minute as Nathan Odokonyero curled a neat effort around Ben Bridle-Card to give the hosts the lead, as Margate bemoaned a handball decision that wasn’t forthcoming.

Benas Vaivada, Margate’s hero on Tuesday night almost levelled the game just minutes later as his fierce shot was fired narrowly over, as the Blues looked to bounce back quickly.

Bognor were rejuvenated under their new boss and doubled their lead in the 22nd minute after some nice play down the flanks allowed the ball to be crossed into the path of Charlie Bell, who calmly slotted home to give Margate a tough mountain to climb.

Calvin Davies almost put the game to bed just before the break, as he picked up on a rebound from his own free-kick before firing a shot that grazed the post of Bridle-Card, as Margate just looked to get to the break without falling further behind.

Despite Manager Jay Saunders introducing Ben Greenhalgh at half-time, unfortunately for the ‘Gate and their travelling fans, the game was put to bed just six minutes into the second half as Davies this time saw his free-kick get over the wall and past Bridle-Card to make it 3-0.

Things went from bad to worse just past the hour mark as Alfie Bridgman fired home from a tight angle to make it 4-0 to Bognor Regis.

Knight saw a header deflected wide, and Vance Bola almost got on the end of a Greenhalgh cross, otherwise it was a miserable afternoon for the Blues, however they did grab a consolation goal in added time as Greenhalgh stroked home a penalty to reduce the arrears.

Margate return to action on Tuesday night as they return to Sussex to face play-off chasing Lewes at The Dripping Pan.

MARGATE: Bridle-Card, Hatfull, Lamb, Agyemang, Knight, Odaudu, Bessey-Saldanha (Greenhalgh 45’), Blackman, Feyi (Bola 63’), Collins (Soyemi-Ololade 72’), Vaivada

Subs not used: Colmer, Rutherford

Margate Goalscorer

Ben Greenhalgh 93’ (Pen)

Attendance

717

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