Horsham (A) - 14th January 2023

Margate travel to Sussex on Saturday to face Horsham as they look for their first three points of 2023 and to ease their relegation fears.

The Blues rescued a last minute point last weekend at home to Brightlingsea Regent, drawing 3-3 thanks to an Emmanuel Oke goal in the 94th minute, however a 4-0 loss to Folkestone at the start of January and a 4-3 exit to Whitehawk in the Velocity Trophy has meant a miserable month so far.

Hoint manager’s Reece Prestedge and Ben Greenhalgh have again moved to bring in further reinforcements with the arrival of Nathan Wood from Tonbridge Angels on Friday evening. Injury concerns could be easing to with Harry Hudson likely to be fit for the game, however there are some doubts over Harrison Hatfull and whether he could feature.

One man that wont feature for the Blues is Billy Knott who picked up a hamstring injury in our cup exit. Phil Roberts could also return after being missed on Tuesday evening. David Smith remains sidelined with a calf injury.

Whilst it hastnt been a good turn of the year for the Blues, Saturday’s opposition are enjoying an unbeaten run that has seen them rise to 13th in the league standings. The Hornets are currently on a six game unbeaten run in all competitions.

These two sides met three times last season with the Blues winning at home but suffering an away defeat in November 2021. The sides met in the Velocity Trophy final at Aveley in April 2022, where the Hornets thumped Margate 4-0 to claim the trophy.

In the two sides meeting this season at Hartsdown Park, a Fjord Rogers strike was cancelled out minutes later as the two sides shared the points on a warm Friday evening.

Kick-off is 3pm, but as always if you can’t be there you can stay right up to date on our Twitter feed @margate_fc from 2:30pm.

Ground address

Horsham Football Club,

The Camping World Community Stadium, 

Worthing Road,

Horsham,

West Sussex

RH13 0AD

Horsham Humble Blues

Report by Jack Waters

The Blues poor form continued as the Gate lost 4-0 away to Horsham, with Ben Greenhalgh and Reece Prestedge still looking for the first win as joint managers.

Despite returning defenders Harrison Hatfull and Harry Hudson coming back into the team from injury, and new signing Nathan Wood making his first start for the Gate it was another disappointing afternoon in West Sussex.

The home side started the game brightly as they forced Daniel Jinadu into making the first save of the game, as he collected a low driven shot comfortably before Margate had theirs, with Phillip Roberts trying an audacious lob, but unfortunately for the Blues, the flag was raised for offside.

In the 8th minute, the first clear cut chance fell for the hosts, as Horsham broke down the left-hand side and drilled a low driven cross, the first shot was brilliantly saved by Jinadu, and Hester-Cook followed up by firing wide of the left-hand post.

Margate followed up with their first clear cut chance, as Ben Greenhalgh’s recycled corner was whipped in brilliantly with Nathan Wood throwing himself at the ball and hitting the post, as the new signing from Tonbridge Angels tried to put his name on the game.

The first goal of the game, fell to Horsham, as a corner was whipped which saw Jinadu palm the ball upwards allowing Jack Strange to poke home, to put Horsham 1-0 in the 15th minute.

Both sides were looking dangerous going forward, but the Horsham’s defence stood strong, as they dealt with Nathan Wood’s dangerous cross, but Horsham hit the Blues on the break, as Jinadu save kept the score 1-0 before moments later, Jack Brivio shot from 20 yards out which was saved once again by Margate’s number one.

Margate ended the first half the stronger of the two sides, as Roberts held the ball up and puts a dangerous cross into the box, the ball was deflected of a defender, it was saved well by Horsham’s goalkeeper, Nathan Wood then connected with the rebound and the defender blocked well again to deny Wood a debut goal, as the half time whistle was blown minutes later.

The ‘Gate started the second half strong with Ben Greenhalgh racing down the right side, however his cross evaded everyone as Margate picked up the pace again. Minutes later, Roberts had a shot smashed wide as the Blues went in search of an equalising goal.

Horsham found their feet in the second half on the hour mark, as Peter Ojemen’s last ditch defending kept the score 1-0, with Dan Jinadu making an outstanding save from the resulting corner as the hosts kept knocking on the door having a great period in the game as they looked to double their lead.

Horsham did eventually double their lead in the 73rd minute, with Tom Richards driven shot found the back of the net. Horsham added the third and fourth in a matter of two minutes, both goals were on the counterattack, the third was controversial, as Sam Blackman was bundled down in the penalty box, the referee waved it away, Blackman stayed down holding his knee, as the hosts went back to forward in a matter of moments, as Rodrigues put the game to bed. A minute later Jack Mazzone tapped home to condemn the Blues to a 4-0 defeat which leaves them six points ahead of the relegation zone ahead of their trip to Bognor Regis Town on Saturday.

Margate XI: Jinadu, Hatfull, Hudson, Cole, Blackman (Brodie 90’), Roberts (Bessey-Saldanha 71’), Greenhalgh©, Barton, Ojemen, Macarthur (Deslandes 87’), Wood

Subs not used: Oke, Sutcliffe

Attendance:

809