Whitehawk (A) - 5th December 2023

By Josh Cole

After over a month when it was originally due to be played, we travel to face Whitehawk in the Velocity Trophy Third Round on Tuesday!

The ‘Gate suffered a 2-0 loss to Enfield Town on Saturday at a chilly Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. You can read the match report from that game by clicking here. 

After the news broke on Sunday at 1pm that manager Reece Prestedge has departed Hartsdown Park, Ben Greenhalgh and Elliot Leveson will take charge for this fixture, with Greenhalgh expected to start the game from the dugout and technical area.

Whitehawk go into this game off the back of a 0-0 draw away at league leaders Hornchurch on Saturday but as good of a result as that is, it stretches their winless run to five games in the league.

Ben and Elliot will be without Lewis Knight for this match (cup-tied), whilst Sam Blackman is unavailable, and Rohdell Gordon serves a one match suspension. Margate fans travelling can expect to see some youth products within the squad.

LAST FIVE: WHITEHAWK

Win vs Lewes, home (3-1) FA Trophy 2nd Round

Draw vs Enfield Town, away (4-4) League

Loss vs Potters Bar, away (1-0) League

Draw vs Cray Wanderers, away (2-2) League

Draw vs Hornchurch, away (0-0) League

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

Loss vs Wingate & Finchley, away (1-0) League

Loss vs Horsham, away (1-0) League

Loss vs Billericay, home (1-3) League

Draw vs Bognor Regis, away (2-2) League

Loss vs Enfield Town, away (2-0) League

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Hawks and The ‘Gate have met ten times since February 2013 and Margate have struggled in recent times, only winning two games, with our opponents winning five and three ending in a draw. The last meeting at The Enclosed Ground was back in August 2018 where the game ended in a stalemate at 0-0.

MATCH OFFICIALS

David Spain will be the referee for this clash and he will be assisted by Freddie Young and Nik Garside.

Not able to follow the Blues as we embark on our Velocity Trophy journey? Stay up to date with the action by heading to our official X account @margate_fc for live match updates from 7:15pm!

STADIUM ADDRESS

THE ENCLOSED GROUND

WILSON AVE

BRIGHTON

BN2 5TS

Blues Exit Velocity Trophy

Report by Riley Finch 

Vinnie Bowman netted his first senior goal as Margate’s youth shone despite a 3-1 defeat to Whitehawk to end our Velocity Cup campaign on Tuesday evening.

In his first start for the senior-team, Bowman’s poachers finish gave us the lead in the 26th minute after the Hawk’s goalkeeper Mitch Walker spilled the ball in the penalty area.

Bowman was one of many young players to be given the nod by interim manager Ben Greenhalgh after Reece Prestedge departed the club on Sunday.

Bowman, Gabriel Duo, Rory Sutcliffe and Alfie Hill all got some well-deserved minutes on the pitch having performed well in the youth set up, including Academy, U18’s and U23’s. .

Despite a vibrant youth selection however, Greenhalgh’s side fell victim to an early goal in the second-half to draw the home side level.

Lloyd Dawes thumping header just one-minute into the second-half was sadly a sign of things to come in the second half.

Charlie Harris rose highest to nod the ball past Seaden to get the hosts in front with just over ten to go and seconds from the 90-minute mark, Josh Nandhra’s sweeping finish cemented the Hawk’s place in the net round.

Despite the defeat, Margate had a handful of chances to seal the game, before the hots took charge.

Steve Cawley’s sublime first touch set him up just on the edge of the box to curl past the Whitehawk keeper but his shot flew just over the bar.

Harrison Hatfull’s incisive cutback also fell to Cawley unmarked in the box but his sweeping finish was saved smartly in what was a key moment to double our advantage.

After a tough week for the club, heightened by the difficult playing surfaces and long journey, Greenhalgh was full of praise for his side come the final whistle.

“We are all really positive in that changing room.

“We wanted to give young lads a chance… for Vinnie to give us that first goal it a brilliant achievement for him and gives him the chance for a lot of progression with us.

“People don’t realise how tough a ground this is to come to, they played a strong team, they’re doing well in the league and we gave them a go.”

Bowman will get the headlines and rightfully so, he said: “feeling really happy to score on my first start, right place right time for a striker’s finish.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity and I hope to push on now and get more involved in the first-team.”

We return to the league this Saturday against 13th place Carshalton as we look to build on a bitter sweet night in Sussex and get back to winning ways.

Margate Xl: Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Poku (Hill 61’), Sterling, Hudson, Bowman (Sutcliffe 68;), Mazzone (Duo 77’), Cawley, Rutherford, Salmon (Greenhalgh 63’)

Subs not used: Hobbs

Margate Goalscorer

Vinnie Bowman 26;

Attendance

118