Gate Fall To Slender September Loss

By Tom Morris

Margate suffer a first defeat in September as a tightly contested game is settled by a decisive strike from Ricky Korboa.

Margate travelled to Carshalton in the Isthmian Premier League for the first of 4 games in 10 days as our FA Cup involvement meant a hectic week and a half of games. In sunny, but windy conditions the hosts got off to a lively start testing the gloves of ‘Gate keeper Tupper with a number of half chances in the first 10 minutes, most notable for Korboa who shot high in the box on 8 minutes but Tupper was equal to the effort.

The ‘Gate had a succession of corner in the 18th minute, the first failed to beat the near post marker and the second was gathered up by former ‘Gate keeper Kleton Perntreou in the Carshalton goal. Our best chance fell to Noel Leighton in the 28th minutes as he connected with a headed pass from Emmanuel Fernandez but saw his effort cleared off the line by a covering defender!

Carshalton were dominating possession but not able to create anything clear cut as Johnson and Fernandez held firm at the heart of our defence, the ‘Gate looked to attack on the counter and had a good opportunity on 42 minutes as Daniel dribbled to the by-line, crossed for Leighton who saw his shot cleared off the line for the second time with the keeper well beaten. After 2 minutes of injury time the half time whistle blew and the players headed back to the dressing rooms with the scores level, 0-0.

Michael Abnett replaced Harrison Hatfull at halftime as he stepped up his recovery from injury and the hosts got the second half underway, much the same as the first as they passed the ball around neatly looking for opportunities to score with the ‘Gate looking to hit back on the counter.

Adem Ramadan went on a mazy run and fired a shot goalward in the 69th minute but Perntreou was equal to the task and made the save. The telling moment came in the 78th minute as Ricky Korboa collected a pass from Jordan Cheadle drove at Abnett, cut inside a fired a low drive into the bottom corner past the diving Tupper, 1-0 Carshalton. Margate threatened with a late effort as Ramadan fired over from 25 yards, Richards and Jeffrey were introduced but the ‘Gate failed to find the equaliser and after 5 minutes of stoppage time the whistle blew, and the hosts celebrated their 1-0 victory.

Margate: Tupper, Hatfull (Abnett 45), Porter, Prestedge ©, Johnson, Fernandez, Ramadan (Jeffrey 90), Anau, Reeves (Richards 58), Leighton, Daniel.

Subs: Holloway, Ababio.

The ‘Gate are next in action on Tuesday 1st of October as we travel to East Thurrock, kick off is scheduled for 19:45.

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