Gate progress in FA Trophy

By Tom Morris

Margate progressed to the 1st Round Proper of the FA trophy after a 4-2 win away at Aylesbury and earned a home tie against Burgess Hill Town.

Our hosts started the match strongly and deservedly took the lead in the 10th minute as Hercules broke out from his own defence and crossed for Jones who scored with a shot from inside the box. 1-0 Aylesbury. Afrane-Kesey raced in behind the defence (17’) but just as he was about to apply the finish the linesman flag went up for offside. The Gate did not have to wait long for an equaliser, and it was a debut goal for Norman Wabo. The recent acquisition smashed the ball home after Swift and Leighton combined to pass him the ball from a Richards corner. 1-1.

Aylesbury responded brightly: Hercules (25’) ran into the Margate box but fired straight at Vose who made the save before Seaton hit a rocket of a shot (28’) that Vose tipped onto the bar. Wabo was having a lively debut and almost grabbed a second latching onto a Burnett trough ball (38’) before being thwarted by Hopwood. There was just time for Jones to let fly from 25 yards, but his shot went well over the bar and the half ended 1-1.

The second half started with a change for the Gate as Moncur replaced Burnett. The midfielder had barely had two touches when he set Wabo through on goal (47’) and the striker coolly slotted the ball under the keeper and into the goal. 2-1 Margate.

The teams traded set pieces: Leighton heading a Richards corner at goal (50’) but his header was cleared before an Aylesbury free kick (53’) is well held by Vose. Manager Saunders made his second change in the 65th minute replacing Jack Richards with Toby Bancroft and the winger almost got a goal, but he puts a shot to close to the keeper with the goal at his mercy!

That missed proved costly as the score was 2-2 in the 69th minute as Jones disposed Porter on the halfway line and charged towards goal sending an unstoppable effort into the top corner! 2-2 and just twenty minutes to play but the Gate were not behind for long as from a Porter free kick Liam Friend showed great feet to feed the ball to Leighton and the attacker smashed the ball home for his first goal of the season. 3-2 Margate.

The forward didn’t have to wait long for his second goal of the season as he (Noel Leighton) picked the defenders pocket on the edge of the area and fires another effort (78’) into the back of the net! 4-2 Margate.

Our hosts were shocked after two quick goals are were unable to get back into the match, Ufuah replaced Wabo to the applause of the travelling fans in the 81st minute and after 3 added minutes an end to end encounter finished: Aylesbury 2 Margate 4.

Margate: Vose, Sessegnon, Porter, Prestedge, Friend, Swift ©, Afrane-Kesey, Burnett, Wabo, Leighton, Richards.

Subs: Kallmeier, Coyle, Moncur (Burnett 45’), Bancroft (Richards 65’), Ufuah (Wabo 82’), Hatton.