Horsham (N) - 13th April 2022

Margate travel to ‘The Parkside’ Stadium tonight, home of Aveley FC to face Horsham in the final of the 2021/22 Velocity Trophy.

The ‘Gate have not won a League cup since the 1997/1998 season when they overcome Redditch United 2-1 on aggregate to lift the trophy. This will be the first time the Blues have competed in the Velocity Trophy final.

Manager Jay Saunders is likely to call back Ben Bridle-Card, Ben Swift, Ben Greenhalgh and Sam Blackman into the squad after they were rested in Saturday’s 0-0 draw away at Carshalton in the Isthmian Premier Division.

That draw for the ‘Gate brought a thankful end to their four game losing streak, and sets them up for a one off clash with their Sussex counterparts for a chance to lift some silverware for the first time since lifting the Isthmian Premier Division play-off trophy in May 2015.

Tonight’s opposition come into the game having won three of their last four games in all competitions, including a 3-0 win over Haringey Borough on Saturday.

Of course, we have already met twice this season in the Isthmian Premier Division with both sides picking up a win each. In November a 93rd minute goal for the Hornets earned them the three points, whilst back at Hartsdown Park in February, a 93rd minute strike from Lewis Knight earned Margate a 1-0 win.

So how have we got to this stage?

Both sides entered in the third round of the competition. Margate overcome a tricky South-East battle against Herne Bay at Hartsdown Park, winning 2-1, whilst Horsham were also beating a side from the Isthmian South-East division in Hythe Town 3-1.

Horsham cruised through Round four with a convincing 5-0 win over Corinthian Casuals, whilst Margate required another late effort from Lewis Knight to overcome Tooting & Mitcham at Hartsdown Park.

It was the Blues turn to run riot in the Quarter-Finals as they crushed Carshalton Athletic 4-1 at Hartsdown Park, meanwhile Horsham also had home advantage as they beat Isthmian South-East play-off chasers Haywards Heath 2-0.

The Semi-Finals again saw Horsham have home advantage as they demolished Isthmian Premier play-off hopefuls Folkestone Invicta 5-0, while Margate travelled to North London to beat Haringey Borough 3-2, just days after beating them at Hartsdown Park in the league.

This will be Horsham’s first game of the competition not at their own Camping World Community Stadium

Kick-off at ‘The Parkside’ Stadium is 7:45pm and tickets can only be purchased at the turnstiles.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults- £10

Students- £6

Concessions- £5

U16’s with a paying Adult- £1

Stadium Address

Parkside

Park Lane

Aveley

Essex

RM15 4PX

If you can’t make it tonight, then you can stay right up to date on our Twitter feed @margate_fc from 7pm.

'Gate Lose Velocity Trophy Final

Margate missed out on the chance to lift their first League Cup in 24 years after they were beaten 4-0 by Horsham FC at ‘The Parkside’ Stadium on Tuesday evening.

On a difficult evening at the home of Aveley FC, Jay Saunders side never got going as they beaten by two goals in each half by their Sussex counterparts.

Saunders recalled Ben Bridle-Card in goal, Ben Swift, Sam Blackman and Ben Greenhalgh to the side after resting them in the 0-0 draw at Carshalton on Saturday.

Backed by hundreds of ‘Gate fans that made the journey from Hartsdown Park, the Blues never got going, despite an even opening 20 minutes where they forced the ‘Hornets’ back by forcing a couple of corners.

The game stayed goalless until the 22nd minute as Lee Harding cut inside the box before releasing a low shot into the bottom corner to give Horsham the lead.

The Blues seemed shocked to go behind and never found composure as Shamir Fenelon and Jack Brivio forced Bridle-Card into two quick saves, as Margate tried to avoid the game getting away from them in the opening 30 minutes.

Unfortunately for the ‘Gate that didn’t last long as Horsham doubled their lead in the 33rd minute as the Blues dithered in clearing the ball, allowing Brivio to smash the ball home and give Margate an uphill task from there on in.

James Bessey-Saldanha and Montel Agyemang forced two half chances before the break, however the ‘Gate went in at the break 2-0 down and with plenty of work to do in the second 45 minutes.

If the ‘Gate’s task was difficult at the break, it became even harder just four minutes into the second half as Brivio raced onto a ball into the box and headed home his second and Horsham’s third to effectively put the game to bed.

Things went from bad to worse just after the hour as Charlie Hester-Cook sent the ‘Hornets’ into dreamland as raced onto a through ball before keeping his composure and tapping the ball home to make it 4-0 to Horsham.

Margate created very few chances in the last twenty minutes of the game as the clock ticked down with Horsham knowing they had both hands on the trophy.

Benas Vaivada sent a shot goalwards, which flew over the bar, and Ken Feyi forced an effort wide, however a miserable evening was brought to an end and the Blues were left empty handed.

MARGATE: Bridle-Card, Hatfull (Lema 81’), Anderson, Agyemang, Knight, Swift, Bessey-Saldanha (Vaivada 54’), Blackman (Oduadu 78’), Feyi, Bola (Rutherford 87’(, Greenhalgh

Subs not used: Kallmeier

Attendance

809