Enfield Equaliser Denies The Gate

Margate extended their unbeaten run with a fourth consecutive draw in March against Enfield Town at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Steve Watt made two changes to his starting eleven with left-back Tom Mills starting in place of the injured Ben Swift and Sam Blackman returning to midfield after suspension. 

Centre-back Liam Friend passed a last minute fitness test to partner Tom Wynter in defence as Sid Sollis returned to the Margate squad having been recalled from his loan at Ashford United and George Essuman, who returns to the club on loan from Dover Athletic for the rest of the season.

The Gate came out the blocks in style, Blackman making an early impact following his one match absence, getting on the end of a testing Dave Martin cross, only to be denied by the Enfield keeper who bravely smothered the danger.

Not too much later, The Gate took a deserved lead for their early pressure. After some initial hard work from Aaron Simpson, Mills' cross was smartly directed by Frannie Collin into the path of Martin, who smashed the ball home.

The Enfield keeper produced another smart save from a good Mills’ effort before blocking Collin, as the hosts crafted good passages of play, in search of a second. 

The visitors responded well in the second half, asking far more questions of The Gate than they had in the first.

Lenny Pidgeley was called into action a handful of times, with Wynter and Friend looking a solid combination in defence as Margate endured spells of pressure.

Whilst clear cut chances remained limited for Margate, Simpson came close to scoring his first goal for the club but his goal bound effort from the far post was blocked.

In the dying stages of the match, Enfield’s dogged display was rewarded with a goal.

Substitute Dernell Wynter bundled home at the near post in the final minute to deny Margate the homecoming they would have liked.

Margate: Pidgeley, Evans (Essuman 88mins), Mills, Rogers, Friend, Wynter, Simpson (Bodkin 67mins), Blackman, May, Collin (Prescott 80mins), Martin; Subs (not used): Lee, Sollis.

Enfield: Wright, Parcell, Bihmoutine (Wynter 67mins), Rumens, Mitchel-King, Johnson, Blackman, Hockney (Youngs 27mins), Wadkins, Campbell (Thomas 75mins), Greene; Subs (not used): Hope, Kyriacou

Attendance: 630

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