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Home Win Heaven

Margate 3 Northwich Victoria 1
Attendance: 478
Nationwide Conference
Saturday 27th September 2003 at The Hoverspeed Stadium.
By Peter Guise

The huge sigh of relief around the Hoverspeed was clearly audible all the way back to Hartsdown as Gate chalked up their first "home" win of the season.

Bruno Baltazar, the Portuguese player with Bundesliga second division experience, made an immediate impression on his debut powering home at the far post with a header from Adrian Clarke's pin point left wing cross with just thirty eight seconds on the watch. 

A goal to the good Margate pressed forward with the Vics having little answer to the bustling Bruno, Clarke's crossing accuracy and former West Ham man, Manny Omoyinmi's electrifying runs and turn of pace. Surely, more goals should follow but somehow Gate failed to take advantage of the shell-shocked visitor's defence. Omoyinmi fired wide from Stadhart's deft flick, then had a right foot shot well saved by Woods before setting up Stadhart who also saw the 'keeper
prevent a further addition to the scoreline. The storm weathered, Northwich created their own chances with Allen guilty of spurning two good opportunities.Firstly, firing across goal with a right foot volley and then blasting over from eight yards out.

After the interval the match took some time to regain the first half tempo but Margate found the net convincingly in the 55th minute. An Adrian Clarke corner on the right was flicked on at the near post and Omoyinmi crashed home at the
far post. Two minutes later Zorocich almost added a third with a 35 yard dead ball drive that was denied by Woods' acrobatic leap and tip over the bar. Vics could have got back in to the game moments later with Thompson sending two shots in quick succession inches over the home crossbar.

Finally, Kinnear's men made the points safe when Darren Annon, who turned in his most impressive game of the campaign thus far, delivered a rocket of a free kick from 40 yards out that caught the visitor's defence by surprise and sneaked in at the left hand post past Wood's outstretched hand.

Steve Garvey scored a consolation goal for Northwich in stoppage time but even that was not going to prevent Kinnear celebrating a welcome first home win and that huge sigh of relief.

Margate: Smith, Oates, Annon, Sodje, Baltazar (Edwards 67), Porter, Leberl, Omoyinmi, Clarke, Zorocich, Stadhart (Pullman 80). Subs not used: Mitten, Kwashi, Abbott. Booked: Baltazar 14 Sent off: none

Northwich Victoria: Woods, Brazier, Foran, Charnock, Royle, Norris (Blackburn 57), Devlin, Barnard, Garvey, Allen (Owen 57), Ross (Thompson 18). Subs not used: Connett, Woodyatt. Booked: Foran 57, Owen 73, Charnock 86, Barnard 90. Sent off: none.
 
Referee: Mike Russell.