Dorking Defeat Blues 4-2

Margate fell to a second defeat in three days as they endured a miserable Boxing Day defeat to Dorking Wanderers in the Bostik Premier League.

The Blues were still without Lenny Pidgeley, James Russell, Chris Sessegnon, Tom Mills and Lee Prescott.

In terrible conditions the Gate found themselves behind in the first minute as James McShane unleashed a 25 yard volley which looped over the stranded Patrick Lee to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Margate almost levelled immediately as Jay May wriggled free before seeing his low driven effort well saved by Huk in the Dorking goal.

The Blues continued to grow into the game as Jordan Chiedozie saw his effort drift wide before May again saw an effort go harmlessly wide. The last chance of the half fell to the hosts as Matt Briggs raced down the right before firing in a low cross which was smashed onto the bar by Giuseppe Sole.

Despite starting more positively the Blues found themselves 2-0 down early in the second half after some nice play down the right saw a wonderful box swung in the box which was headed home by Isaac Philpott to make the Gate’s task even harder.

The ‘Gate weren’t to just roll over though and stormed straight back into the game as May crashed home a low effort to reduce the arrears minutes before he raced through one on one but with the equaliser looming the striker mishit the effort and it rolled comfortably into the keepers arms.

Philpott doubled his goal tally for the afternoon as the Blues looked for an equaliser as another ball into the box was tapped home to make it 3-1 and take the game away from the Blues. Things went from bad to worse minutes later as Dorking broke away only for Liam Friend to slide across and take the ball but the referee adjudged that he took the player as well and awarded a penalty and booked Friend.

The Penalty was calmly slotted home by former Margate midfielder Lewis Taylor to make it 4-1 to the hosts in the pouring conditions.

Margate were awarded their own penalty in the 90th minute which Frannie Collin duly dispatched but it was all too late as the Gate suffered a second successive defeat.

MARGATE: Lee, Fox, Wynter, Rogers, Friend, Swift, May (Enver-Marum 76’), Evans, Chiedozie (Bodkin 75’), Collin, Martin (Haysman 45’)

Subs Not Used: Brown, Bray

Attendance: 236