Brightlingsea Regent (H) - 7th January 2023

Margate welcome Brightlingsea Regent to Hartsdown Park on Saturday looking for their first points of 2023, in what is interim joint managers Reece Prestedge and Ben Greenhalgh’s first home game in charge.

The ‘Gate were defeated 4-0 at Folkestone on Bank Holiday Monday in the joint managers first game in charge after the dismissal of Andy Drury. The Blues are on a winless run which stretches back to the 22nd November 2022 when they beat Folkestone Invicta in the Velocity Trophy.

The visitors to Hartsdown Park on Saturday are coming in on the back of an impressive Bank Holiday win over high flying Bishop’s Stortford who they beat 2-0. Their first win of 2023 was their first in 19 games in all competitions.

The ‘Gate currently sit 16th in the Isthmian Premier Division, whilst Regent currently find themselves in the relegation zone in 21st position having accumulated 14 points so far this season.

Prestedge and Greenhalgh will be without Sam Blackman (suspension), Taylor Fisher (Shoulder) and Harrison Hatfull (Hamstring), whilst Harry Hudson (Ankle) could also miss out. The Blues are able to welcome back Peter Ojemen from suspension after he missed the defeat at Folkestone Invicta.

The ‘Gate lost to the visitors back in August going down 2-1. That defeat was the first defeat for the Blues against Saturday’s opposition, having won four and drawn two of the previous six games prior to August’s defeat.

Kick-off at Hartsdown Park is 3pm, however as always if you can’t join us then you can stay right up to date on our Twitter feed @margate_fc from 2:30pm.

Oke Rescues Last Minute Point

Report by Jack Waters, Full 'O' Football Podcast

The Blues made five changes from the defeat to Kent rivals Folkestone Invicta. As injuries to Harry Hudson(training), Harrison Hatfull(Folkestone game) and Freddy Barton(Warm up). Striker David Smith was replaced by new signing Phillip Roberts and Montrell Deslandes replaced the outgoing loanee Marvin Herschel.

Margate started with a makeshift back four, with all four defenders the age of 21 or under, as 17-year-old Jack McCarthy from the U18’s and Academy started his first game for his local club.

Margate flew out of the trap, as Matty Macarthur with a great strike with his right foot, and tucked it top corner, within the first few minutes of the game, shortly after James Bessey-Saldanha had a cross fired across goal, but unfortunately, no last touch to put Margate further ahead in the game.

Twelve minutes later, joint manager and skipper, Ben Greenhalgh scored straight from a corner, with the conditions being tricky, it surely helped Margate go 2-0 up within 20 minutes of the game.

Minutes later, the visitors get themselves back in the game, as Littlejohn gets a sweet volley from the Regents corner and puts it past Blues keeper Daniel Jinadu.

On the half hour mark, new signing Roberts lays a lovely touch into Bessey-Saldanha’s stride, but unluckily the defenders closed him down well, and the shot goes over the bar.

On the 34th minute, the visitors equalise, from striker Zuhdu, Cameron Brodie, playing a right back, could contain the strength, as Zuhdu beats Brodie and defender Oke, and hits the ball hard into the near post. From the visitor’s equaliser, both teams found it tough with the windy conditions, as the teams went into halftime level at the break.

It was the visitors who came out of the trap in the second half, as Oke struggled to clear from a long ball, and the forward Locke made the hosts pay, like Macarthur’s goal, snuck it top right corner past Jinadu, as the Regent completed the turnaround.

Minutes after, Margate’s number one saved a strike from Olukolu with his head, with the wind once again playing a factor during the game. 15 minutes later, in the 69th minute, they also had a strong penalty shout, as the striker went down with a challenge from Oke, the referee waved played on, but the visitors couldn’t capitalise.

Coming into the last ten minutes, Margate controlled the ball, but couldn’t find the final pass or touch to get the equaliser, with also Deslandes going down into the box after being dragged down, but the referee didn’t see it, as a big “No” was raised by the referee.

But in injury time, Margate had a corner, which was beautifully whipped in on the right-hand side, and Emmanuel Oke jumped the highest to sneak it over the line, as Margate finally got the equaliser with a lot of pressure.

Margate XI: Jinadu, McCarthy, Brodie, Cole, Bessey-Saldanha, Greenhalgh, Ojemen, Oke, Macarthur, Deslandes, Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Marsh, Procopi, Adams, Barton. Smith

Margate Goalscorer’s

MaCarthur

Greenhalgh

Oke

Attendance

333