Chesham United (A) - 30th September 2023

By Josh Cole

We continue our FA Cup journey with a trip to Chesham United for the Third Qualifying Round with a place in the Fourth and final Qualifying Round and the opportunity of an appealing National League draw at stake for both teams!

Margate were knocked out of the DFDS Kent Senior Cup in the First Round by Hythe Town on Tuesday Night losing 2-1, albeit with a rotated and young side. You can read the match report by clicking here.

FACING A FAMILIAR CLUB

Steve Cawley and Phil Roberts will know The Meadow very well from their time with Chesham. Cawley made his debut for the claret and blue side in 2007 and stayed there for two seasons (07/08, 08/09) making 51 appearances in that time. Phil Roberts was on loan to Chesham from Chelmsford making his debut in 2017.

CUP JOURNEY’S SO FAR

Chesham United, also known as ‘The Generals’ faced Walton & Hersham in the First Qualifying Round which they would win 1-3 away. They then went on to face Farnham Town in the Second Qualifying Round where they would win 1-2 away from home once again.

The ‘Gate started our journey against Hendon, who are in the same league as Chesham, and won that game 2-3 away from home, setting up a tie against Folkestone Invicta in the Second Qualifying Round. The clash at Hartsdown Park was tense and required a last-minute Antonis Vasiliou goal to force a replay as the game ended 2-2. We then travelled to The Alcaline Stadium and put in a superb performance to win 1-3 and progress to the Third Qualifying Round for the first time since 2017!

LAST FIVE: CHESHAM

5th September – Win vs Hanwell Town, away (0-3) League

9th September – Win vs Merthyr Town, away (1-3) League

16th September – Win vs Farnham Town, away (1-2) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

23rd September – Loss vs Winchester City, home (1-2) League

26th September – Draw vs Walton & Hersham, away (2-2) League

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

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

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

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

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

26th September – Loss vs Hythe Town, away (2-1) DFDS Kent Senior Cup First Round

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Margate and Chesham have only met one time in the last ten years with Chesham winning that game 0-3 at Hartsdown Park in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round on the 16th of November 2013.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The referee on Saturday will be Josh Crofts and he will be assisted by Matthew Ball and Samuel Olhausen!

KIT COLOURS

Margate will be back in blue for this FA Cup tie with Chesham in their claret and blue home strip!

If you aren’t able to make it to this FA Cup game, then make sure you are following our official X account @margate_fc for live match updates from 2:15pm onwards!

STADIUM ADDRESS

THE MEADOW
AMY LANE
CHESHAM
HP5 1NE

Blues Journey In FA Cup Is Over

By Dylan Smith

The ‘Gate travelled to Buckinghamshire hoping to rectify their two recent back-to-back losses. A place in the fourth qualifying round in the FA cup was at stake. Sadly, goals from Bruno Andrade and Lucas Sinclair in either half would end any hope of the ‘Gate progressing further.

Despite the result, Margate started well in the early moments of the half. Sam Blackman picked the ball up in midfield and had some space to work with. Left-back Archie Johnson made an overlapping run down the wing, and he was found inside the box, unfortunately, he would send the ball just wide of the post.

One of the first problems for the ‘Gate came just after the 12th minute. Phil Roberts who had only recently just returned from a hamstring strain pulled up after a sprint down the left-hand side. Fyn Rutherford came on to the pitch, and despite being a good option the momentum was clearly lost.

The home side would find the opener late in the first half. They built up well through the midfield, played the ball out wide where the winger found Andrade lurking in the box. The striker took one touch and then found the roof of the net, giving the Generals a 1-0 lead.

Margate had it all to do following the interval. But it would be Chesham who would find the second goal of the game. Poor possession from the Margate defence, forced the Blues to turn over the ball. This left Sinclair one-on-one with the keeper, where he would slot the ball comfortably into the bottom corner.

Reece Prestedge brought on Daniel Duncanson to try and change the midfield battle. Despite this, the ‘Gate couldn’t create anything major, despite seeing more of the ball for a fair amount of the second half. Wayward shots from Antonis Vasiliou and the rest of the attack, weren’t causing the opposition keeper any trouble.

Just like that the 45 minutes had passed and the ‘Gate’s dreams of a Fourth Qualifying Round place had faded. Chesham ran out 2-0 winners, leaving Margate with three losses on the bounce, needing to rejuvenate their form next time out in the FA Trophy against Harrow.

Lineup

Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Sterling, Vasiliou (Bowman), Blackman, Cawley, Roberts (Rutherford), Greenhalgh, Mazzone (Duncanson)

Attendance

658