Gate Secure First Win In Summer Scorcher

By Tom Morris

Under glorious sunshine Margate battled to their first victory of the season with a solid 2-0 win against bottom of the table Lewes at Hartsdown Park. 

509 spectators witnessed Kudus Oyenuga work his markers all afternoon, and get his first chance on 5 minutes as he won a corner from a fierce shot, Kadell Daniel then took up the mantle of chief protagonist with mazy runs in the 11th and 15th minutes that led to shooting opportunities but the Lewes defence held firm.

After a drink break midway through the first half both Kudus and Kadell had half chances, sandwiching a long-range effort from the Lewes n11 Golding. Then in the 32nd minute the crowd witness Oyenuga’s first goal. Harrison Hatfull making his senior debut broke free down the right channel and crossed for Kudus Oyenuga to power a header passed Stroomberg in the Lewes goal. 1-0 to The Gate.

After a couple of speculative efforts from our visitors, a nice piece of interplay between Sessegnon and Robins and a late corner that was well cleared by Thomas Day the referee brought the first half to a close.

The second half was a much cagier affair as both teams made double substitutions; Margate replaced Sessegnon and Hatfull with Pont and Ashley. Lewes made the brighter start as Pamment and Bown had efforts repelled by the Gate defence as well as a free kick that beat Miles and rebounded off the cross bar.

Manager Jay Saunders made his final change replacing goal scorer Oyenuga with James Jeffrey shortly before Harrison Pont picked up a yellow card for persistent fouling, before the telling moment of the second half; skipper Ben Swift read a dangerous Lewes attacked and fed the ball upfield where Kadell Daniel picked up the ball, beat his marker and scored with a well placed shot into the corner of the goal, 2-0 Gate and little over 7 minutes left for Lewes to get back in the match.

Indeed after 5 minutes of extra time and little chances of note the game ended and The Gate picked up their first victory of the season. 

Margate: Miles, Sessegnon, Porter, Anau, Johnson, Swift ©, Hatfull, Robins, Oyenuga, Daniel, Ramadan.

Subs: Holloway, Jeffrey (Oyenuga 78), Harrison Pont (Hatfull 61), Ashley (Sessegnon 60), Ababio