Gate Beat Bognor

By Tom Morris

Margate got back to winning ways with a hard fought 2-1 win at Bognor on Saturday 4th January in our first away game of 2020 thanks to goals from Roman Campbell and Kieran Monlouis.

The ‘Gate made the long trip to Sussex and started the game against Bognor like we finished the game against Cray on NYD: the first 10 minutes saw chances for Leighton, Daniel and twice from Monlouis as Tangara was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers making a number of quality saves. This passage of attacking dominance continued into the 13th & 14th minutes as Jack Richards curled an effort just over the before releasing Monlouis a minute later striding out from defence but he also shot wide of the goal.

Bognor created their first chance in the 20th minute when Tuck tried to chip Tupper and saw his shot skim off the crossbar – a timely reminder of the potent attacking display they showed at HDP in November. The game then settled down and the next chance of note came in the 34th minute when a Kadell Daniel cross was almost turned in for an own-goal but the ball was scrambled clear for a corner; from which Roman Campbell nearly headed in his first goal for the ‘Gate but was denied by Tangara. Bognor almost scored a minute before half time from a Leigh free-kick, but Tupper made the save and the sides went in level at the break, 0-0.

We didn’t have to wait long after the restart for the opening goal: Kieran Monlouis won the ball in midfield and surged towards goal slotting the ball through for Roman Campbell to run onto and dink the ball past the onrushing keeper to open his account with the ‘Gate. 1-0. Like London buses another goal came almost immediately but this time from the boot of Harvey Whyte who spoked a loose ball into the net from a corner in the 51st minute, 1-1.

Not to be deterred Margate went back on the offensive, Noel Leighton headed a Daniel corner wide in the 65th minute and Jay Porter almost scored with a heavily deflected cross in the 68th minute. Manager Saunders made two changes introducing Reeves and Ramadan for Campbell and Daniel and it was Reeves who almost scored collecting a Liam friend diagonal pass and firing just wide of the post.

In the final few minutes the game was lost and then won as in the 89th minute Bognor did everything but score; the ball hitting the crossbar, being cleared off the line and ping-ponging around the ‘gate penalty area before eventually being cleared! then with 92 minutes on the clock Jack Richards collected a pass from Reeves and squared the ball for Monlouis who curled an effort from 20 yards up and over the keeper and into the back of the net! 2-1 Margate!! The final whistle blew, and we celebrated our first win of the new decade! 

Margate: Tupper, Sessegnon, Porter ©, Monlouis, Johnson, Friend, Richards, Lamb, Campbell (Reeves 78’), Daniel (Ramadan 88’), Leighton 

Subs: Holloway, Robins, Abnett