No Bank Holiday Blues For The 'Gate

Manager Steve Watt gave striker Jordan Chiedozie his first start in a Margate shirt making way for striker Jay May who dropped to the bench, meanwhile James Rogers returned to the starting eleven as captain after missing Saturdays defeat at Wingate & Finchley.

It was the Blues that started really well with Dave Martin and Frannie Collin linking up well with the latter shooting inches wide of the far post after a neat passage of play.

New striker Chiedozie looked lively on his Margate debut and almost broke the deadlock after 32 minutes as he latched onto a long ball from Liam Friend but with only the goalkeeper to beat his tame effort fell straight into the hands of the visitor’s keeper.

Despite being on top for the majority of the first half the Blues couldn’t find the breakthrough that they deserved and seven minutes into the second half they almost fell behind as Rob Sheridan headed a corner onto the bar before bouncing away to safety.

Margate continued to push though as they went in search of their first three points at Hartsdown Park of the season. Martin delivered a delightful ball into the box which evaded Thomas Wynter as frustration grew around Hartsdown Park.

The hosts got exactly what they deserved in the 73rd minute as Orlando Smith showed some fantastic skill on the right to beat his man before firing in a low cross across the six yard box which was tapped home by Chiedozie to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

There was a heart in mouth moment for the Blues in the final moments as Guiseppe Sole looked to poke home but the outstretched arm of Lenny Pidgeley denied the former Woking striker as the linesman raised his flag for offside.

MARGATE: Pidgeley, Sessegnon, Mills, Rogers, Friend, Wynter, Smith, Evans, Chiedozie (Stannard), Collin (Prescott), Martin (May)

Subs Not Used: Kallmeier, Swift

Attendance: 630

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