U23's End Season With Hastings United Defeat

Report by Paul Meade

Margate U23’s finished their season off at Hartsdown Park against a very strong Hastings United side still looking to win the Development league.

With a strong squad themselves the ‘Gate started brightly and could have gone ahead as early as the third minute but for a good save from the Hastings keeper.

As the game settled Margate increasingly found it difficult to contain the opposition striker who caused problems all game. It was from a through pass to him that broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.

This was a test of character now and Margate responded well with a fantastic move down the right wing with good link up play between Louie Procopi , Zak Jobe and finally a cross pulled back to Charlie Meade who slotted home the equaliser in the 42nd minute.

This should have been enough to go in level at half-time but a mistake in defence led to Hastings taking the lead again with the last kick of the half.

HT 1-2

The Margate management team were looking for a response from the players in the second half and they certainly came out with a much improved positive attacking play.

For the first 15 minutes of the second half Margate had a large part of possession and created several good scoring opportunities with some of the best attacking form all season. They knew that in this period they had to find the equaliser and on 52 minutes some intricate short passing between Jack Miller and Louie Mirza, they thought they had found just that as Charlie Meade’s thunderous left foot shot crashed against the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

This inspired the ‘Gate even further but five minutes later as they were pushing high for the equaliser, another quick break and long through ball was slotted home making it 3-1 to the visitors.

This goal stunned Margate and ten minutes later a fourth goal was added to make the score 4-1.

This prompted a double substitution with the introduction of Sam Belsey and Llewen Campbell and it was the former who combined well with Harvey Bridger on several occasions down the left that created chances for Miller and Nathan Geddes, but both found no way past a resolute Hastings keeper.

The young ‘Gate side did pull one back in the 81st minute when Wes Hennessy quick break down the right was cut back for Campbell to fire home to reduce the arrears.

This however despite more good forward play was to be the final score.

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