Bath City v Margate

Margate make the long trip to National League South side Bath City this evening (Tuesday) in the 3rd qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

The Blues have overcome Staines Town and Egham Town to progress to this stage whilst for Bath this will be their first game in the competition. The delay to their second qualifying round due to Bowers & Pitsea being removed meant Margate only faced Egham on Saturday just gone.

Two goals from Frannie Collin saw the ‘Gate progress despite the star showing of Aaron Bufton in the Egham goal.

Bath currently sit 12th in the National League South and will be favourites but they will face a Margate side that are well in form having won five in a row as well as being unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.

Lenny Pidgeley is likely to be missing due to an ongoing illness whilst Chris Sessegnon is still struggling with a knee injury otherwise Manager Steve Watt has a squad that will look to progress to the 1st round proper of the competition.

There is no doubt that Margate will have to be wary of Marvin Morgan. The Blues didn’t enjoy either trip to Bath during their two year stay in the Vanarama National League South having lost twice, 2-0 and 1-0.

The winners of tonight’s tie will face either Hendon or Slough Town away in the 1st Round proper as well as collect £5,000 prize money.

Kick off at Twerton Park is 7:45pm but as always if you can’t be there then you can stay right up to date on the clubs official Twitter @margate_fc

Blues Hold Bath For Trophy Replay

Margate held National League South Bath City to an entertaining 0-0 draw at Twerton Park last night as both sides aimed to reach the 1st round proper of the Buildbase Trophy.

The Blues would have headed home knowing they could have won the tie in the original 90 minutes but will host their higher league opposition at Hartsdown Park next Tuesday 5th December 2017 to see who will face Bostik Premier Side Hendon in Round One.

It was an end to end game throughout with both sides creating chances throughout the 90 minutes but neither side was clinical enough with both defences holding firm. It was Margate who had the better of the opening stages as Jordan Chiedozie looked lively against the Batch back four but his trickery down the left wasn’t quite enough to give the Blues the lead.

There was no doubt that Bath showed that they could be a handful when pushing for an opener themselves with them seeing several shots well held by young Patrick Lee in the ‘Gate goal.

The hosts looked like they would take the lead in the first few minutes of the second half as they had an effort hacked away off the line before the follow up was scuffed wide as the National League South side looked to turn their possession into a lead but still Margate held firm.

The Blues fired another warning of their own though on 68 minutes as Jack Evans low rasping drive was well saved down to his right by the host’s goalkeeper as Margate almost snuck into the lead.

That wasn’t to be the best opportunity though for the Blues as they thought they had won it in the 74th minute as Dave Martin chipped in a ball to Kane Haysman whose glancing header was acrobatically saved with one hand by the Bath keeper to keep the scores level.

There was to be no late winner which means these two sides will meet again next Tuesday evening for the right to play in Round One of the competition and to collect £5,000 prize money.

MARGATE: Lee, Wynter, Mills, Rogers, Friend, Swift, Haysman, Evans, Chiedozie (May 90’), Collin, Martin (Bodkin 89’)

Subs Not Used: Prescott, Enver-Marum, Hume

Attendance: 341