Goal Less FA Trophy Tie At Barking

The ‘Gate drew a blank in wet and windy Essex against a resolute Barking FC side and will head back to Hartsdown Park for a replay on Tuesday evening.

Margate started the brighter and had an early chance as Julien Anau broke free of his marker but fired his shot wide, possession was shared out and the play was scrappy at best over the next 10 minutes as both sets of players fought with the worsening conditions. Sanusi went into the referee’s book for kicking the ball away from a Barking free kick.

The teams traded free kicks in the 19th and 22nd minutes, first Johnson rose to meet a Daniel cross, but his header lacked power and the keeper made a comfortable save before Ashman fired his effort over for the hosts. Anau, Leighton and Daniel also combined well but the latter fired wide of the mark.

The half drew to a close with Tupper making a good save from Dixon after the hosts created a decent half chance in the box before Montel Joseph saved well from Noel Leighton who perhaps should’ve made his effort more difficult to save.

The ‘Gate started the second half with more purpose and started to lay siege to the Barking goal, Leighton had a chance on 55 minutes that was well saved by Joseph before Adem Ramadan, the hero from Tuesday evening, fired just over the cross bar 2 minutes later. Manager Saunders made two changes bring Jack Richards and Elliott Reeves on for AL-Hafeez Sanusi and Adem Ramadan and the former combined with Anau to set up Leighton who saw another good effort saved by the legs of the hosts keeper.

Time was running out for both teams and we can be thankful for the quick reactions of Tupper who saved expertly from Dixon to deny Barking a winning goal, the final play saw Joseph save smartly from Reeves as a 0-0 draw seemed a fair result. The final whistle blew confirming our replay on Tuesday night back at Hartsdown Park.

Margate’s Kent Senior Cup first round tie against Phoenix Sports will now be played on Tuesday 5th November, KO 19:45 @ HDP.

Subs: Holloway, Porter, Stewart, Abnett, Hatfull.

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