|
Gate seek winning habit against Abbotts
|
Match Sponsor: PALM BAY GARAGE
Not many Margate fans would have picked this game as Gate’s biggest game of the season back in August. But, if ever there was a six-pointer, then this is it as the Blues were overtaken by Saturday’s opponents courtesy of the Abbotts’ 2-1 home win over Horsham on Thursday evening; a result that leaves Gate at the bottom of the table on goal difference from Bognor Regis.
When the two sides met at Capershotts in November, Gate won by the odd goal in seven in what proved to be a bit of a thriller. It was also significant in that the victory lifted the Blues to 15th place in the table; their highest of the season.
The home side actually took the lead when James Elmes scored on 22 minutes. But Margate were level nine minutes later when Joe Healy scored his fourth of the season. Six minutes after that, Gate went close with a header but the ball went just past an upright.
Nine minutes after the break, Sammy Cliff put Margate in front for the first time in the match, with a diving header from Healy’s cross. On 76 minutes, Andy Keepence equalised for the home side with a header at the far post. But five minutes later, Gate were back in front when Ben Clarke’s pacey run set up the chance for Healy whose long range effort was deflected into the Waltham Abbey net.
Again, the Abbotts came back at Margate and Lee White poked the ball home to once again bring the home side level. Then on the stroke of full time, Blackman despatched his second penalty in as many league games to secure three valuable points for Margate.
Manager Iain O’Connell continues to ring the changes at Hartsdown Park, as following the arrival of Nick Barnes, Grant Cooper, Jay Saunders and Jamie Turner, both Ben Clarke and Antonio Gonella have been released by the new boss; Gonella having re-singed for Maidstone United.
Aaron Lacey returns to the squad following a two match ban but Curtis Robinson will miss this and the next four games as two suspensions of two and three games respectively will run concurrently. Jack Haverson or Lacey look the most likely to cover for Robinson's absence on the left side of defence, although Dean Grant could be another alternative.
With Clarke’s departure, the vacant berth on the left side of midfield could see Dan Stubbs moving across, perhaps with Lacey moving forward into midfield on the right.
Whatever the combinations deployed by the manager, a win against the only side below Gate in the table will be crucial.
Waltham Abbey came into the Premier Division as Ryman League Division One North Play-off winners, but have found the step up challenging. However, the Abbotts did win February’s Premier Division Vandanel Team Performance of the Month award for their 4-2 away victory at Wealdstone after coming back from a half time two goal deficit.
One interesting factor to throw into this bottom of the table tussle is the home and away form of both sides. Margate have won just twice on home soil, having enjoyed greater success away from Hartsdown Park. And with Saturday’s visitors holding a very similar record to the Blues, we should be in for a tense, potentially exciting and season-defining afternoon.
Kick-off at Hartsdown Park is at 3.00pm.
Stats and Stuff
MARGATE
This Season
Overall: 22nd; Pld 28; W 6; D 7; L 15; GF 34; GA 65; Pts 25; GD -31
Home: W 2; D 4; L 8; GF 13; GA 36
Away: W 4; D 3; L 7; GF 21; GA 29
Form: L D L L L L
Last Season
Overall: 20th; Pld 26; W 6; D 7; L 13; GF 33; GA 50; Pts 25; GD -17
Home: W 2; D 4; L 6; GF 12; GA 21
Away: W 4; D 3; L 7; GF 21; GA 29
Waltham Abbey
This Season
Overall: 20th; Pld 27; W 7; D 6; L 14; GF 32; GA 49; Pts 27; GD -17
Home: W 3; D 1; L 8; GF 11; GA 21
Away: W 4; D 5; L 6; GF 21; GA 28
Form: L L W W L W
Last Season
Ryman League Division One North Play-off Winners
Overall 4th: Pld 42; W 25; D 7; L 10; GF 85; GA 45; Pts 82; GD +40
Home: W 15; D 1; L 5; GF 52; GA 16
Away: W 10; D 6; L 5; GF 33; GA 29
Head to head
2008/09
RPL – Waltham Abbey 3 - 4 MFC
Waltham Abbey FC contact details
Address: Capershotts, Sewardstone Road, WALTHAM ABBEY, Essex, EN9 1LU
Tel: 01992 711287
Web: www.wafc.net
Pre-Match
Don’t forget, if you want to get to Hartsdown Park in plenty of time and enjoy the build up to kick-off, you can enjoy a drink in The Hartsdown, a hot snack from the snack bars, pay a visit to the club shop, plus we’ll have more great music.
LIVE Match Commentary
If you can’t get to Hartsdown Park to follow the action, you will be able to listen to full and exclusive live match commentary with GATE RADIO from www.margate-fc.com.
We’ll be on air from 2.30pm with music from our featured artists and you’ll hear the full match exclusively live from 3.00pm. Just CLICK HERE to go to the GATE RADIO home page and follow the “listen live” instructions.
And don’t forget you can make a voluntary contribution to the provision of this service by clicking on the PayPal button on the GATE RADIO page. Or you can enquire into sponsorship of our GATE RADIO coverage on a game by game basis or for the rest of the season. Email us for details.
Keep up to date with our match commentary schedule by becoming a fan of GATE RADIO 
GATE RADIO – if you can’t be there, be HERE. |
04 Mar 2010 by Steve Wells
|
|
|
