Carshalton Athletic (H) - 18th February 2023

Margate welcome Carshalton Athletic to Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon as they look to move further away from the Isthmian Premier Division bottom four.

The Blues earnt a 1-1 draw away at Herne Bay on Tuesday evening despite being reduced to ten men after just 36 minutes of the match. It means the ‘Gate have just suffered one defeat in their last six as they continue to pick up crucial points to steer away from the drop zone.

Carshalton, managed by former Margate midfielder Steve McKimm travel to Hartsdown Park in indifferent form of late. The Robins have two wins from their last six games, however they took all three points from Bognor Regis Town on Monday night to lift themselves to 9th in the league standings.

Margate will be without Sam Blackman (Suspension), meanwhile there are some doubts over Emmanuel Oke who was injured in the tackle that saw him red carded on Tuesday evening. Manager Reece Prestedge will be hopeful that Ade Cole can feature after he returned to action for the second half at Herne Bay.

Steve McKimm won’t be the only regular face that Blues fans recognise at Hartsdown Park on Saturday, with former Blues full-back Crossley Lema now playing for the Robins, as does former striker Calvin Ekpiteta.

When these two sides met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, Margate were left frustrated after an early red card shown to Fjord Rogers hampered the ‘Gate as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat. These two sides met at Hartsdown Park twice last season. A 0-0 draw in the league was played out before Margate hammered their opposition 4-1 in a Velocity Trophy tie in March.

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

Blues Fall To Home Defeat

Margate suffered a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Carshalton Athletic at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon thanks to a Tommy Bradford first half strike.

Manager Reece Prestedge recalled fit again midfielder Ade Cole to the starting eleven in place of James Bessey-Saldanha, whilst Cameron Brodie featured on the bench.

It was the visitors that started brighter with an early header going narrowly over the bar in the opening minute. Margate were living dangerously in the opening stages of the game as Matthew Vigor saw a fierce shot at the back post go narrowly wide

Carshalton took the lead in the 23rd minute as Tommy Bradford saw his deflected shot beat Daniel Jinadu as the visitors took an early advantage. The Robins looked intent to extend their advantage moment as a free-kick flashed across the Blues box and away to safety.

The visitors continued to attack the Blues goal as just minutes before half-time Karl Akinwande squandered a glorious chance for the visitors to double their advantage.

Jinadu was again called into action in the 52nd minute as he got down well to deny Vigor again as the Blues continued to struggle to get into the game. Margate’s first real opportunity came in the 55th minute as Sinn’Kaye Christie let fly from distance which was superbly tipped onto the post and away from danger.

With the clock running down, Margate went more direct which almost brought a leveller in the 88th minute as ball in the box bounced around before Harvey Smith smashed the ball over as the chance of an equaliser was squandered.

With five additional minutes added after the 90th minute, Margate had one last chance as Nathan Wood collected the ball on the edge of the box but his shot was straight at Danny Bracken, and Margate were left frustrated with a narrow defeat.

MARGATE Xl: Jinadu, Fisher, Christie, Hudson, Cole, Roberts, Greenhalgh, Ojemen, Oke (Knott 82’), Macarthur (Smith 82’), Wood

Subs not used: Hatfull, Brodie, Barton

Margate Man of the Match

Harry Hudson

Attendance

410