Potters Bar Town (A) - 15th March 2022

Margate travel to Hertfordshire on Tuesday evening to face Potters Bar Town, as they look to return to winning ways in the Isthmian Premier Division.

The Blues lost for the first time on Saturday for the first time in eleven games, as they were beaten 2-0 by runaway Isthmian Premier Division leaders Worthing.

The ‘Gate make the journey for the second time after their original trip in January was postponed upon arrival, due to adverse weather conditions.

Margate have injury concerns still over Lewis Knight, Joe Anderson and James Bessey-Saldanha, meanwhile they hope Harrison Hatfull will recover from a sickness bug in time to feature.

Defender and Captain Ben Swift will be available, despite his red card on Saturday as his three game ban doesn’t kick in until Saturday’s home fixture against Harinhey Borough.

‘The Scholars’, as they are otherwise known have seen an improvement in form since the appointment of Manager Sammy Moore. Since taking charge on 1st February, the club have only lost three times in ten games which has seen them rise to 12th place, and away from the Isthmian Premier Division danger zone.

Potters Bar recorded a 3-2 away win at Carshalton Athletic on Saturday.

Due to COVID, the last meeting between these two sides came in November 2019 as the pair shared a 2-2 draw at Hartsdown Park. The last time the two sides met at the now named ‘LA Construction Stadium’ was December 2018, as Margate picked up three points thanks to a George Brown effort and a Frannie Collin strike in a 2-1 win for the Blues.

Kick-off at the ‘LA Construction Stadium’ is 7:45pm, but as always if you can’t make it then you can stay right up to date at the clubs official Twitter feed @margate_fc from 7:30pm.

Stadium Address

The LA Construction Stadium

Parkfield, Watkins Rise (off The Walk)

Potters Bar

Hertfordshire

EN6 1QB

'Gate Suffer Second Defeat in Four Days

Margate suffered a second defeat on the road in a row, as they were beaten 2-0 by Potters Bar Town on Tuesday night in the Isthmian Premier Division.

The Blues were still without defenders Lewis Knight and Joe Anderson, as well as midfielder James Bessey-Saldanha, however they were able to welcome Harrison Hatfull back into the side after he recovered from a sickness bug.

The hosts had been in resurgent form since the appointment of Manager Sammy Moore, and they started lively at The LA Construction Stadium as former ‘Gate striker Calvin Ekpiteta saw two early chances go close.

It didn’t take much longer though for the former Blue to put his new side ahead as he was on hand to turn home the rebound of Corey Parchments shot, which had been parried by Ben Bridle-Card.

Margate never really got going in the first half and bar a Vance Bola effort that went wide, it was the hosts that nearly doubled their lead as Bridle-Card was again forced into action just before the break.

The second half started very much in the same fashion as the first with the hosts in the ascendency. It only took the ‘Scholars’ eleven minutes of the second half to double their lead as Dwight Pascal rose highest in the box to head home a corner.

For all the desire in the world that they showed, Margate looked bereft of ideas up front as they tried crossing balls into the box to no avail, as a resolute Potters Bar back-line dealt with anything thrown at them.

The Blues almost got back in the game in the last ten minutes as Ben Swift saw a half volley hit the side netting from a Ben Greenhalgh cross, however it was to be more misery on the road as the Blues returned to Kent empty handed.

Margate return to action this Saturday as they welcome Haringey Borough to Hartsdown Park in the Isthmian Premier Division.

MARGATE: Bridle-Card, Hatfull, Odaudu, Agyemang, Lema, Swift, Vaivada, Blackman, Bola (Oliver 67’), Rutherford (Feyi 58’), Greenhalgh

Subs not used: Kallmeier, Prestedge, Lamb

Attendance

181