Cray Wanderers (H) - 30.8.21

Margate welcome Kent rivals Cray Wanderers to Hartsdown Park on Monday afternoon as both side look to extend their impressive starts in the Isthmian Premier League.

Cray, now managed by former AFC Wimbledon and Ebbsfleet prolific striker Danny Kedwell travel to Hartsdown Park sitting 5th in the table after taking six points from their opening three games. The Wands won their opening two games but slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to Worthing on Saturday.

Margate sit just a point behind their Kent rivals after one win and two draws in their opening three games.

You have to go back to 1st January 2020 for the last time these two met as a thrilling contest at Hartsdown Park saw the New Year begin with defeat for the Blues as they were defeated 4-3 in a classic. Covid-19 has meant that the two sides haven’t met since.

Margate will wait to see if Chris Sessegnon has recovered from injury after he missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cheshunt FC.

Ahead of the game, Margate will pay tribute to former Manager Les Riggs who sadly passed away during the pandemic. The game against another Kent club seems appropriate to remember a man that made such a huge difference to football in Kent.

We also want to celebrate Bank Holiday in Margate so our drink specials will run throughout the day with a Gadds special and small bottles of wine priced at just £3 throughout the day.

Kick off at Hartsdown Park is scheduled for 3pm with the turnstiles open from 1:30pm.

Blues Remain Unbeaten After Win Over Cray

Margate fought back from a goal down to earn a 2-1 win over Cray Wanderers at Hartsdown Park on Monday and stay unbeaten in the Isthmian Premier Division.

With the weather grey and damp, it was left to Jay Saunders side to brighten up the Blues fan desperate for some sun soaked action at Hartsdown Park on Bank Holiday, however the game matched the weather in the early stages as prolific striker, now turned player/manager Danny Kedwell rolled back the years and leapt highest in the home sides box to head the visitors ahead after nine minutes.

Margate responded almost immediately as Ben Swift nodded towards goal which was met by Sam Blackman who saw his effort superbly saved.

Cray had Turner to thank in their goal moments later as Montel Agyemang slid through James Bessey-Saldanha who saw his low shot saved by the outstretched legs of the Cray number one.

If the home crowd needed something to brighten up their afternoon it was delivered to them by striker Vance Bola who collected the ball 20 yards out, looked up and rifled an unstoppable strike past Turner to level the scores at 1-1.

Pat Ohman superbly saved a Lee Lewis strike just moments later as the two sides went in level at the break.

The second half started very tense and cagey with neither side wanting to suffer the Bank Holiday blues, and it too until the 71st minute for the next chance to arrive as Bola again stung the hands of Turner as the hosts looked to push on and grab the winner.

That moment arrived in the 84th minute as a delightful Jack Richards free-kick was chipped into the box before landing at the feet of Dan Thompson who smashed the ball home to send the home side delirious.

Margate Xl: Ohman, Kamara, Anderson, Agyemang, Knight, Swift, Palmer (Richards 69’), Blackman, Thompson, Bola (Godo 78’), Bessey-Saldanha.

Subs not used: Prestedge, Kallmeier, Lamb

Goalscorers

Bola 23’

Thompson 84’

Man of the Match

Montel Agyemang

Attendance

415