Wands Wreck Blues Bank Holiday

Margate suffered their second defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane on Monday afternoon.

Manager Andy Drury made just one change from the side that earned a point against Horsham on Friday night as Freddy Barton stepped in at right-back ahead of Harrison Hatfull.

It was the hosts that set out to give the ‘Gate backline some issues as they forced several corners in the opening ten minutes, however the Blues back-line and goalkeeper, Amadou Tangara dealt with the early pressure well.

The ‘Gate were struggling to get the ball down and play football and lacked any real attacking threat before they fell behind in the 28th minute as substitute Dan Bassett raced down the left and struck a low shot into the far corner past the outstretched dive of Tangara.

In a frustrating first half display, the Blues attack very rarely threatened and were unable to create any clear chances before the break as they trailed 1-0 at half-time.

Margate started the second half very much similar as the first half looking slow and unable to control the ball with a lack of creativity in the attacking areas.

It was the hosts that should have doubled their lead just after the hour mark as Anthony Cook raced through one on one with Tangara, only for him to somehow slot his effort wide of the post.

Margate despite not creating much up to this point had a glorious opportunity to level in the 75th minute as Sam Blackman saw his effort well saved, only for the rebound to fall in the box, however James Bessey-Saldanha and Fjord Rogers got in each other’s way and the chance went begging.

Despite creating that chance, there wasn’t to be much else from the Blues as they huffed and puffed for the final fifteen minutes to no avail and suffered a Bank Holiday defeat to Cray.

The ‘Gate return to action on Friday night as they begin their Emirates FA Cup campaign away to Aylesbury United.

MARGATE: Tangara, Barton (Hatfull 58’), Fisher, Brodie, Knight, Hudson, Blackman, Rogers, McCann (Bessey-Saldanha 68’), Greenhalgh (Smith 82’), Howard

Subs not used: Ojemen, Deslandes

Attendance

312

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