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MFC 0, Waltham Abbey 3 (RPL)
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Match Sponsor: PALM BAY GARAGE
The Ryman League Premier Division trapdoor opened a little wider for Margate today with a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Waltham Abbey. Despite enjoying the majority of the possession, Gate were unable to find the breakthrough and showed their collective defensive frailties.
New signing James Pinnock came straight into the starting line up for the now departed Ben Clarke and James Duncan replaced the suspended Curtis Robinson for Iain O’Connell’s second game in charge.
As has happened so many times this season, Margate enjoyed the majority of the possession the full length of the pitch, but in both penalty areas, were found wanting. Going forward, Lloyd Blackman and James Pinnock were short of good quality service in, and although Sam Jones threatened with a number of his trade mark jinking runs, the Blues rarely troubled Harry Ricketts in the Waltham goal. At the back, the lack of cohesion that has been a feature for Gate all season was again evident as the visitors capitalised and they could even afford to spurn a chance from the penalty spot.
Margate came out of their blocks in confident mood and but for an off-side flag, Dan Stubbs could have given them a dream start within 60 seconds. Two minutes later, an Aaron Lacey long throw caused panic in the visitor’s six-yard box – Jay Saunders instrumental in applying Margate pressure – but the defence managed to clear the ball from their own goal line.
On five minutes, Ricci Crace had the Abbotts’ first chance but his shot from 19 yards was high and wide.
For the remainder of the opening quarter, Margate looked the better side but paid the price for not building up and applying sustained pressure on the visitors.
On 21 minutes Waltham won a free kick just a yard outside the “D”. With a well rehearsed free kick routine, one player stepped over the ball and James Elmes struck a rising shot that was heading for the top right corner of the goal when Jamie Turner dived to his left and palmed the ball out for a corner.
Elmes took the corner, the Margate defence failed to clear the danger from their six-yard box and Ricci Crace took advantage of the situation to prod the ball over the line for the opening goal of the contest.
Margate eventually won their first corner of the game on 32 minutes after good play from Sam Jones in the Waltham right back area. Nick Barnes took the corner which was cleared from the near post by a defender but only as far as Dan Stubbs who took the ball back in towards the front edge of the box before letting fly with a shot that drifted wide of the target.
The remainder of the half saw Margate continuing to dominate possession but Waltham Abbey looking dangerous on the break although neither keeper had that much to do. Rickets did however make a good save low down to his left from a header with three first half minutes remaining.
Margate started the second period well, creating an opening in the opening seconds of the half – just as they did in the first – but skipper Jay Saunders who had chested the ball down couldn’t react quickly enough to get a shot in and the ball went just wide of the left post via a deflection. Nick Barnes took the resulting corner from the left which was cleared behind for another corner but Gate were unable to capitalise.
On 48 minutes, Barnes sent a free kick towards the left edge of the six-yard box and although Saunders got a downward header on target, it lacked the power to beat Ricketts. Three minutes later, Jones and Pinnock combined on the left then Gate’s latest signing came in towards the edge of the area before firing a shot in but it was high and wide and didn’t trouble the keeper.
With 53 minutes on the clock, the Abbotts won a penalty when Lacey was judged to have handled in the area. James Elmes stepped up to take the spot kick, fired the ball low to the left only to see the Gate keeper dive across to his right and push the ball clear with a fabulous save.
Margate were then twice denied scoring opportunities in quick succession in unfortunate circumstances. Firstly, on 57 minutes Pinnock had got away from his marker and as he approached the edge of the “D” with just the keeper to beat, was brought down by Ted Llewellyn. The referee waved away appeals for a free kick and the immediate danger was cleared. Seconds later, the ball came into the area from the Margate right, it came off a defender’s arm, again there were appeals – this time for a penalty – but as the ball went across the bye-line, the referee signalled a corner.
Margate created another opportunity on 61 minutes when Barnes set up Blackman but he pulled his shot across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.
The respite for Margate following Elmes’s penalty miss lasted only 10 minutes however, as Waltham Abbey doubled their advantage. Lee White took a free kick, floating the ball into the front edge of the Margate box from where it was knocked across the right edge of the six-yard box for Crace to volley the ball beyond Turner and into the goal.
Margate’s fragile confidence drained away with the second goal and possession-wise the game was much more even although still the visitors looked dangerous on the break without creating too many clear-cut chances.
With a quarter hour remaining, Margate took a short corner on the right. Jones and Dean Grant combined before the former Ramsgate and Dover midfielder cut in towards the box from where he fired a shot narrowly wide of the right upright.
Seven minutes later, Lee Sontag almost made sure of the points for the visitors but after a good run through the Margate defence to connect with Joe Clemo’s low cross his shot flew over the bar.
Gate went close to reducing the deficit when Jones picked up a long ball forward; controlled it nicely before skipping past two challenges and sending a curling shot toward the top left corner of the goal, but it just didn’t curl in enough and flew out for a goal kick.
If the points weren’t already safe before, they were wrapped up by the visitors with three minutes or normal time remaining. The Abbotts had broken forward again, substitute George Chanda picked up possession of the ball and fired a low shot into the Margate goal from just inside the box.
In added time, Margate went close to a consolation goal but Saunders’ effort following a Barnes free kick was well saved by Ricketts.
Margate’s position looks increasingly perilous at the foot of the table; now eight points form safety but the improvement made by the likes of Waltham Abbey and Billericay Town show what can be achieved with just a few wins. So with 39 points to play for, it’s certainly not over for the Blues yet.
Margate: Turner, Lacey, Duncan, Cooper, Young, Saunders, Stubbs (Grant 60), Barnes, Pinnock, Blackman, Jones.
Subs not used: Anderson, Keister, Haverson, Cliff.
Waltham Abbey: Ricketts, Bostock, Llewellyn, White, Keepence, Parker (Clemo 46), M.Sontag, Elmes, Doku (Holland 68), L.Sontag, Crace (Chanda 78).
Sub not used: Allen.
Match commentary:
First Half
Second Half
Match reaction:
Iain OConnell
James Pinnock |
06 Mar 2010 by Steve Wells
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