Potters Bar Town (H) - 9th September 2023

By Josh Cole

Margate are back in action as we welcome Potters Bar to Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon for Matchday six in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Margate progressed into the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup after beating Hendon 3-2 at Silver Jubilee Park last Saturday. You can read the full match report by clicking here.

I interviewed manager Reece Prestedge after the win against Hendon, you can watch what he had to say on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Team News:

Margate will have to wait on a fitness test for midfielder Leo Mazzone who limped off in our win at Hendon after 24 minutes. Roberto Ratti remains side-lined for the ‘Gate.

Seasons So Far:

The visitors, Potters Bar Town, have endured a disappointing start to season having lost all of their fixtures, leaving them bottom of the division with zero points. Defeats include Carshalton Athletic (5-0), Enfield Town (0-2), Lewes (1-2), Chatham Town (2-0), and Billericay most recently on Bank Holiday Monday losing 1-3. They have scored two goals in five matches and conceded 14, giving them a goal difference of -12.

The ’Gate are sat in 15th place with two wins against Whitehawk (2-1), and Concord Rangers (1-2) and three losses against Hornchurch (4-1), Cheshunt (1-2), and Folkestone Invicta (2-0) putting us on six points. We have scored six goals and conceded ten giving us a goal difference of -4.

Head-to-Head record

Margate and Potters Bar have played nine times since September 2015, with three wins going the way of Margate, five wins going to Potters Bar and one game ending in a draw. The last time the two teams met was on the final day of last season at Hartsdown Park where Potters Bar came away 2-3 winners. You can watch the highlights from that game by clicking here.

The match officials for Saturday are Deryll David (Referee) and he will be assisted by Ben Marshall and Simon Cutler.

Ticket Offer for This Game!

The game is FAMILY FUN DAY with all U18’s being free. One Adult FREE with U18’s. Blue Light Card Holders are FREE. School Staff who bring their School ID are FREE!

Not attending this league fixture? You can follow the action from our X account @margate_fc with live match updates from 2:15pm, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

Up The ‘Gate

Blues Fight Back To Beat Potters Bar

By Dylan Smith

Margate returned home after their recent FA cup triumph away at Hendon. Despite going a goal down in the first half, a double from Steve Cawley gave the Blues the three points and keeping their momentum.

The game started with both sides struggling to adapt to the heat. The ball would mainly stay in the midfield, with both teams struggling to control possession. The first chance would fall to the ‘Gate as the ball was played out wide to Phil Roberts who would drive down the sideline. He then cut inside and shot from 20 yards; but he was only able to hit the side netting.

With the half running out of time and both sides seemingly content to be going in level at the break, Potters Bar would open the scoring. Rohdell Gordon picked the ball up on the left wing, shifted it onto his right and found a perfect cross to striker Brandon Adams, who would head home.

The ’Gate players had composed themselves at the start of the second half. Margate were now on the front foot, pinning the visitors deep in their half. Roberts hit a hopeful long-range effort that would roll into the keeper’s arms.

Within just five minutes of the restart the Blues would find themselves level through an excellent Steve Cawley goal. Ben Greenhalgh played Harrison Hatfull down the right-hand side, he beat his opposing full back and found Cawley in the box, who neatly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

In a matter of minutes, the ‘Gate had turned the game on its head. Roberts floated out to the left-hand side, whipped a ball into the area and the star man on the day Cawley, would head home for his second of the game, giving Margate a 2-1 lead early in the second half.

The ‘Gate nearly extended their lead a couple of times in the second period. Antonis Vasiliou would only be able to hit the side of the post after bringing the ball down brilliantly to create himself a one on one. Cawley also missed the chance for his hat trick, shooting just wide.

In the dying moments of the game, Potters Bar nearly equalised after having a goal ruled out earlier in the half, due to a player being offside. A last-ditch corner in added time would find a Town player in the six-yard box. He directed the ball goalwards, fortunately, Harry Seaden was up to the task, tipping the ball onto the crossbar and securing Margate a much welcome three points!

The ’Gate now have a derby to look forward to next weekend, as they face Folkestone in the FA cup at Hartdown Park.

Line-up

Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Sterling, Hudson, Blackman, Cawley (Cham 86’), Roberts, Greenhalgh, Rutherford, Duncanson (Vasiliou 70’).

Subs not used

Hobbs, Salmon, Sutcliffe

Goalscorer(s)

Cawley 50’, 55’

Attendance

921