Lewes (H) - 4th November 2023

By Josh Cole

The Isthmian Premier Division returns to Hartsdown Park for Matchday #11 as we take on Lewes in CT9 on Saturday afternoon.

In our last match against Hastings over two weeks ago, we suffered a 1-2 defeat despite taking the lead. You can read the latch report by clicking here.

Reece Prestedge gave his thoughts on that game in his post-match interview on our YouTube channel. Watch the video by clicking here.

SEASON’S SO FAR:

We have struggled to string consistent results together so far this season and this sees us sat in 16th place in the table on 13 points from 10 games. We have four wins against Whitehawk (2-1), Concord Rangers (1-2), Potters Bar (2-1), and Chatham Town (2-0), one draw against Hashtag United (1-1), and five losses against Hornchurch (4-1), Cheshunt (1-2), Folkestone Invicta (2-0), Canvey Island (4-1), and Hastings (1-2). 13 goals and 18 conceded leaves us with a goal difference of -5.

Moving onto our visitors who are sat in a healthy 9th place on 18 points from 10 games. The Rooks have five wins against Cray Wanderers (1-0), Kingstonian (1-3), Potters Bar (1-2), Hastings (3-1), and Enfield Town (4-0), three draws against Hornchurch (2-2), Bognor Regis (3-3), and Carshalton Athletic (1-1), with two losses against Folkestone Invicta (1-3), and Chatham Town (3-0). With 20 goals scored and 15 goals conceded, that leaves them with a goal difference of +5.

View the full Isthmian Premier Division table by clicking here.

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

Loss vs Chesham United, away (2-0) FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

Loss vs Harrow Borough, away (1-0) FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round

Win vs Chatham Town, home (2-0) League

Draw vs Hashtag United, home (1-1) League

Loss vs Hastings United, home (1-2) League

LAST FIVE: LEWES

Win vs Lowestoft Town, home (4-1) FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round

Loss vs Aldershot Town, away (4-1) FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round

Win vs Enfield Town, home (4-0) League

Draw vs Carshalton Athletic (1-1) League

Win vs Dulwich Hamlet, away (0-2) FA Trophy 1st Round

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dating back 10 years, we have faced Lewes 14 times, with three wins for Margate, seven wins for Lewes and four draws. The last time the two teams met at Hartsdown Park was 1st April 2023, last season, where the game ended 2-2 with Margate’s goals from Sam Blackman and Ruben Soares-Junior. You can watch the highlights from that game by clicking here.

Margate will wait to see if striker Steve Cawley has recovered from a calf strain picked up our defeat to Hastings United. Defender Skye Salmon is likely to be dual –registered with a SCEFL side ahead of the weekend. There is no other injury concerns for manager Reece Prestedge, however Sam Blackman misses the game as he serves a game suspension after picking up five yellow cards. 

MATCH OFFICIALS

The referee for Saturday’s fixture will be Steven Goldup and he will be accompanied by Piotr Zachwieja and Marian Stoichitoiu.

Tomorrow we will be holding a minute silence to remember all those that have died in conflicts around the world as well as former Margate player Lenny Long who sadly passed away recently. In addition to that, we will be selling poppies in the hut by the turnstiles!

Unfortunately, not able to make the game? Head over to our official X account @Margate_fc for live match updates starting from 2:15pm!

Brilliant Blues See Off Lewes

By Dylan Smith 

The Blues produced an excellent performance to win 2-0 against Lewes at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Reece Prestedge named a changed eleven, with Olly Box making his first start and Harry Hudson taking the armband in absence of Sam Blackman who was serving a one game suspension.

The game started as a cagey affair in the opening ten minutes. The ‘Gate had started slow, leaving the away side to have more control of the ball in our final third, fortunately, the backline stood firm, leaving Harry Seaden with minimal to do.

With the ‘Rooks struggling to break the Blues defence down, Bradley Pritchard decided to take a lucrative shot from 30 yards, hitting the crossbar.

With this near miss, the ‘Gate woke up and started to get a foothold in the game. The Blues pressed higher up the pitch, causing the Lewes ‘keeper to send a wayward pass to Greenhalgh who unleashed an effort from 20-yards that was seemingly going into the bottom right corner, but the shot was saved.

Margate’s small period of dominance would pay off in the 25th minute. Greenhalgh’s delivery from a corner whipped its way to the back post, finding Tyrone Sterling who was able to head home to break the deadlock and give the host a deserved lead.

With Margate now on top, the chances kept on coming throughout the first half. The most notable of these being Greenhalgh’s header in the 38th minute. Rohdell Gordon picked the ball up on the right wing and saw Greenhalgh lurking around the penalty spot. Gordon managed to find him with an excellent cross leaving Greenhalgh to head the ball, but his powerful effort hit the crossbar.

Margate came out for the second half firing, looking to put the game to bed. They had the Lewes team pinned in their third for the opening ten minutes of the restart.

In the 60th minute, Greenhalgh would all but seal the three points for the ‘Gate, scoring the goal that his performance deserved. A through ball was played to Harrison Hatfull down the right wing as he worked his way into the box and cut it back to an unmarked Greenhalgh, who smashed home to make it 2-0.

With Lewes latching on to any hope of them leaving with a point, they played a ball across the six-yard box, Hudson was there to clear in another positive display from Margate’s backline.

The ’Gate went on to manage the rest of the half, as they looked to slow down the game. Despite a late flurry of corners and five minutes of added time, the ‘Rooks were unable to break the defensive wall of Margate, securing the ‘Gate three points and a much-needed clean sheet.

We’re back at home again Tuesday evening against Haringey Borough in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Lineup

Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Poku, Sterling, Hudson, Gordon (Bowman 93’), Greenhalgh, Rutherford (Duncanson 88’), Box (Cawley 74’), Knight

Unused sub(s)

Roberts

Mazzone

Goalscorer(s)

Tyrone Sterling 25’

Ben Greenhalgh 60’

Man of the Match

Tyrone Sterling

Attendance

372