Hythe Town (A) - 26th September 2023

By Josh Cole

We begin our defence of the DFDS Kent Senior Cup as we travel to Hythe Town for the First Round on Tuesday evening.

The ‘Gate will be looking for a reaction after losing 4-1 to Canvey Island on Saturday in the league. You can read the full match report from that match by clicking here.

Manager Reece Prestedge is likely to give some squad players a go that haven’t featured as much this season as he prepares for two cup clashes in four days, with a trip to Chesham United on Saturday in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.

SEASON’S SO FAR:

The hosts currently sit in 8th place in the Isthmian South-East Division on six points from three games, with a goal difference of +1. After losing on Saturday, Margate have fell to 15th place on nine points from seven games with a goal difference of -6.

LAST FIVE: HYTHE TOWN

2nd September = Loss vs Hanworth Villa, home (0-2) FA Cup First Qualifying Round

9th September = Win vs Burgess Hill, away (1-3) Isuzu FA Trophy First Qualifying Round

16th September = Loss vs Chichester City, away (5-0) League

19th September = Draw vs Sittingbourne, away (1-1) Hythe win on penalties, Velocity Cup Second Round

23rd September = Win vs Chertsey Town, away (2-4) Isuzu FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

2nd September = Win vs Hendon, away (2-3) FA Cup First Qualifying Round

9th September = Win vs Potters Bar Town, home (2-1) League

16th September = Draw vs Folkestone, home (2-2) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

19th September = Win vs Folkestone, away (1-3) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay

23rd September = Loss vs Canvey, away (4-1) League

Match Officials

The man in the middle for this DFDS Kent Senior Cup is Kane Dempster, and he will be assisted by Freddie Young and Reece Cahalane.

Kit Colours

Margate will wear the black and white away strip for the second consecutive game!

Head-to-Head

The ‘Gate and Hythe have met twice one other time since our game in October 2014 with the record being split down the middle at one win a piece with the last trip to Hythe being a win for the hosts.

The winners of Tuesday evening’s tie will host Sittingbourne at home in the second round.

Not making the trip to Hythe on Tuesday night? Follow our official X account @margate_fc for live match updates commencing from 7:15pm!

STADIUM ADDRESS:

REACHFIELDS STADIUM
FORT ROAD

HYTHE
CT21 6JS

Hythe End 'Gate's Time In Kent Senior Cup

Margate were dumped out of the DFDS Kent Senior Cup in Round One on Tuesday evening as they were beaten 2-1 by Isthmian South-East side Hythe Town.

Manager Reece Prestedge gave first team opportunities to youth stars, George Hunt and Rory Sutcliffe, whilst Academy star Vinnie Bowman was named on the bench as Margate aimed to replicate last season where they won the trophy in May at The Priestfield Stadium.

Returning Phil Roberts looked lively in the opening stages as he spotted the hosts keeper off his line, however his spectacular effort was easily collected in the 3rd minute.

Despite a relatively bright start, Margate did fall behind in the 7th minute as the hosts worked the ball out wide which saw a ball swung into the box and headed home by Johan Caney-Bryan to make it 1-0.

With Mo Cham on the left and Sutcliffe on the right, the ‘Gate had pace on the wings going forward, however were unable to force any major chances.

In the 20th minute it was the two wingers who linked up superbly as Sutcliffe played a delightful ball into the path of Cham who took it down wonderfully, however raced through and slid the chance wide of the post.

Roberts was almost released again by Sutcliffe, however the through ball was just too long for Roberts as Margate continued to push for an equaliser.

The Sutcliffe, Roberts partnership was blossoming and it almost wielded a leveller as another fine cross from Sutcliffe was glanced just inches wide from Roberts.

Four minutes later and the ‘Gate were level as a loose back-pass from a Hythe defender was latched onto by Roberts who calmly slotted the ‘Gate level, nothing less than they deserved.

Despite the leveller, Margate would find themselves behind again just five minutes later as a quick free-kick released Caney-Bryan who fired the hosts back ahead, and Margate had it all to do again.

With not much response in the opening stages of the second half, Prestedge introduce Ben Greenhalgh and Antonis Vasiliou to the stage in place of Sutcliffe and Cham and the reward was almost instant.

Just five minutes after coming on, Vasiliou had a glorious opportunity to level as Roberts swung a delightful ball into the box which was met by Vasiliou who smashed the chance off the top of the crossbar when it looked easier to level.

Roberts looked most likely to get the ‘Gate level as he again forced Phillips into another great save as the ‘Gate’s hopes of progressing seemed to be fading away.

The introduction of Vinnie Bowman with eight minutes to go was the only bright spark as they failed to create any meaningful opportunities as their time in the competition ended in the First Round.

Margate return to action this Saturday as they travel to |Chesham United in the Third Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Margate Xl: Seaden, Hunt, Johnson, Poku, Hudson, Roberts, Rutherford (Bowman 82’), Salmon, Cham (Greenhalgh 62’), Sutcliffe (Vasiliou 62’), Mazzone

Subs not used: Blackman, Duncanson

Goalscorer

Phil Roberts 36’

Attendance

138