'Gate Lose IOT Cup Showdown

Margate were defeated by local rivals Ramsgate on Saturday afternoon at Hartsdown Park 2-1, as the ‘Rams lifted the 2022 Isle of Thanet Cup.

An injury concern to Sam Blackman ahead of the game meant he started on the bench as Margate looked to continue their solid start to pre-season.

It was an uneventful opening 45 minutes in the Hartsdown Park sun with neither side creating many chances as the scores remained level at 0-0 going in at half-time.

The second half started much quicker and the visitors were ahead within the opening five minutes as a quickly taken free-kick caught Margate sleeping, allowing Ramsgate to advance before the cut back ball was diverted goalwards by Margate striker Harvey Smith who put the ball in his own net.

The Blues looked to pick up the pace immediately and went on the attack by forcing four successive corners, before Kieron McCann thought he had levelled, only for the linesman’s flag to suggest otherwise as he was ruled offside.

For all their intent to equalise, the ‘Gate fell two goals behind in the 65th minute as former Blues striker Jordan Chiedozie saw his shot saved by the trialists goalkeeper, before the ball rebounded off Chiedozie and into the net to double the ‘Rams’ lead.

Five minutes later a later challenge on Peter Ojemen saw a Ramsgate player receive a red card, leaving Margate with a man advantage, which they looked to take advantage of as Troy Howard beat the offside trap, only to see his shot rise narrowly over the bar.

The Blues had cut the arrears moments later as Howard again broke the offside trap and rolled the ball square to James Bessey-Saldanha who made no mistake to fire the ball home and reduce the score-line to 2-1.

Margate continued to push but never really looked likely to equalise, and the game ended on a sour note as a scrap in the box resulted with Montrell Deslandes and Jamie Coyle being sent off as Ramsgate held on to lift the trophy.

MARGATE: Trialist, Fisher, Knight, Hudson, Ojemen (Trialist 77’), Cole, Topley (Deslandes 81’), Greenhalgh, McCann (Howard 73’), Bessey-Saldanha, Smith (Oluwesemo 67’)

Subs not used: Blackman, Kallmeier

Margate Goal scorer

James Bessey-Saldanha 76’

Margate Man of the Match

James Bessey-Saldanha

Attendance

562

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