Margate 2-2 Dartford - Kent sides draw little comfort with a point apiece

Margate, who officially went into the game second from bottom in the Ryman Premier League table, taking into account last Tuesday’s 4-0 win at Canvey Island was abandoned with just eight minutes remaining, deserved to go into the interval a goal up, courtesy of a bizarre 39^th minute own goal from long-serving Dartford defender Tommy Osborne.

But Osborne made amends on the hour mark, converting a penalty after Jamie Coyle’s ball towards a crowded penalty area was handled by Wayne Wilson.

Striker Kenny Pratt took his goalscoring tally to six for the season when he volleyed Margate back into the lead just seven minutes later, but a stunning goal from Adam Gross made sure bragging rights were shared with just twelve minutes remaining.

Margate’s second largest crowd of the season saw red footballs used during this enthralling Kent derby, as the Ryman League bid to raise money for Comic Relief in their “Do something for funny” campaign.

What isn’t funny, however, is that both Thanet clubs, Margate and Ramsgate, are still waiting decisions from Ryman League officials, concerning their points tallies.

Ramsgate, who drew 3-3 at highflying Carshalton Athletic today and are two places above the drop zone, could lose four points if they lose their appeal later this month, whilst Margate await to see if their emphatic 4-0 win at Canvey Island stands or has to be replayed.

The Ryman League must solve these issues immediately, so every club knows where they stand in the table. If the League hand Margate their deserved three points from Canvey Island, then it gives them 36 points - and in sixteenth place in the table.

But Margate officially climbed up one place to 20^th in the table, if you go by the Canvey Island match not counting, but today’s match proves the Thanet club are showing signs of getting out of their current predicament.

Although going into the half-time interval a goal-up, courtesy of Osborne’s freak own goal, Dartford goalkeeper Andrew Young pulled off a couple of fingertip saves, to deny Joe Healy, who was playing behind the front two of Ryan Peters and Pratt.

It was the fifth minute when long-throw specialist Aaron Lacy hurled the ball into the Dartford penalty area and lurking at the near post was Healy, whose header was expertly tipped over at the near post by Young.

Margate enjoyed the upper hand during a one-sided first half, as fifth placed Dartford struggled with the wind in their faces, and Young made a comfortable save from Peters’ right-footed angled drive from 25-yards.

A poor first half by Dartford’s standards, saw just two first half chances created, although Gross and Jamie Coyle failed to test Pat Mullin in the Margate goal.

But Young kept Dartford in the game with his second fine save just before the hour mark.

Wayne Wilson had initially swung in a free-kick from the left, which Young punched away under pressure and Healy cut the ball back to Dan Stubbs, who whipped the ball in and following a flick from Pratt, Healy’s angled drive was superbly tipped over by Young at his near post.

Margate, however, thoroughly deserved to go into the half-time interval a goal to the good, courtesy of Osborne’s bizarre own goal.

A rolling ball forward appeared to be harmless for Young, who had advanced outside his penalty area and he blasted the ball against Osborne’s back, some 30-yards from goal, and the ball looped off the long-serving defender and dropped into the roof of an empty net to the delight of the home faithful.

It could have been even better for the hosts when Liam Harwood’s glancing header was destined for the far corner, but Young tipped the ball around his post.

Burman’s half-time team-talk spurred on his side and they came out for the second half with much more attacking purpose.

The same couldn’t be said about the weather, as warm blue skies turned to bitterly cold grey clouds above Hartsdown Park.

After Margate defender Curtis Robinson was booked for a strong challenge on Noble, Day’s right-footed free-kick from 25-yards brought a comfortable low save from Mullin.

Dartford were given a life-line on the hour mark as, with the ball bouncing in and around the Margate penalty area, Wilson was adjudged to have handled Coyle’s ball back into the crowded area.

Up stepped Osborne and he sent Mullin the wrong way with his right-footed spot-kick, which he fired into the bottom left-hand corner, to bring cheer to the freezing cold travelling fans at the Coffin End of the ground.

With the pendulum now swinging in Dartford’s favour, Mullin made an unorthodox save to prevent Day scoring with a left-footed drive.

But Margate regained the lead, against the run of play at the time, after 67 minutes, through Pratt’s excellent finish.

Mullin’s kick up field released Peters through on goal down the right and he was denied by a fine save from Young, who had advanced off his line, but the ball looped up into the air and Pratt, lurking on the edge of the penalty area, curled a stunning left-footed drive past Osborne on the line to find the back of the net.

Mullin fumbled a thirty-yard drive from Noble, but was relieved to pounce on the loose ball, thus averting any danger, but he couldn’t do anything about Dartford’s deserved leveller.

Noble sprayed the ball to Gross on the left and with Margate’s defenders not picking him up, the 22-year-old left wing-back cracked a stunning low left-footed drive from 35-yards, which beat the goalkeeper at his near post.

Margate squandered two excellent chances to claim a crucial three points inside stoppage time.

Lacy launched a throw into the penalty area which found Healy unmarked at the far post, but his left-footed shot skied high over the crossbar and into Hartsdown Road.

And then substitute Jackson Ohakam released Peters and his snap volley from 25-yards beat Young, but the ball agonisingly dropped onto the roof of the net.

Dartford drop one place out of the play-off’s and Burman, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, admitted he wasn’t pleased with his side’s first half display.

“I think we were poor in the first half, if I’m honest, and we didn’t adapt to the conditions whatsoever and I can’t keep making it as an excuse,” he said.

“We weren’t happy at half-time, we felt there were three points here for the taking. We had the wind behind us in the second half and we wanted to go for it but we got the goal to come back to one all and really we should have gone on in the drivers seat, but it wasn’t too be.”

He added: “But fair play to Margate, they caused us a few problems today.”

Burman was full of praise for Gross, whose stunning strike ensured the points were shared.

“He’s been outstanding for us, he’s an eight out of ten player each week,” said the boss.

“He’s got a goal today, which he’s strummed it in. We’ve asked the players to have some shots on target.

“He’s done well, he’s done very well, he’s only 22-years-of age, and he’s got a lot of experience and he’s a real steady eddy player.”

For Margate boss Terry Yorath, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, he admitted his defenders could have done more to prevent Gross scoring.

Like Burman, the Welshman was disappointed with a point, saying, “Obviously we’re at home and we were 2-1 up with about fifteen minutes to go.

“I felt theirs was an easy goal. The left-back gone onto it, ten-yards outside the penalty area, he could have taken another ten minutes to have a shot, because our defenders were never closing him down.

“But nevertheless, they’re a good team, a strong team. Second half they lifted the tempo and put a lot of pressure on us and we seemed to survive quite well.

“We play a lot better now than we were at the beginning of the season and I think a draw was a fair result really.”

But on a positive note, Yorath heaped plenty of praise on Peters, who played his part in Margate’s second goal.

“He’s got a lot of ability, he’s got good energy,” he said. “He’s not the best defender in the world, I think playing at the back he’s liable to do things defenders shouldn’t do.

“So we’ve pushed him up front, he enjoys it, he’s free, he’s got ability and probably before Kevin Pratt scored, he probably should have scored.

“But nonetheless, the last few games for us he’s played really well and taken some chances.”

Margate: Pat Mullin, Dan Stubbs (Jackson Ohakam 81), Curtis Robinson, Liam Harwood, Dan Young, James Gregory, Aaron Lacy, Wayne Wilson, Joe Healy, Ryan Peters, Kenny Pratt (Nathan Bailey 77).
Subs: Jack Haverson, Kieron Morris, Scott Chalmers-Stevens.

Goals: Tommy Osborne 39 (og), Kenny Pratt 67

Booked: Liam Harwood 20, Dan Stubbs 48, Curtis Robinson 55

Dartford: Andrew Young, Jamie Coyle, Adam Gross, Adam Flanagan, John Guest, Tommy Osborne, James White (Brendon Cass 74), Jamie Day, Craig Carley, Rob Haworth, Lee Noble.
Subs: Seun Eferakorho, Scott Holding, Rob Whitnell, Hussein Isa.

Goals: Tommy Osborne 60 (pen), Adam Gross 78

Booked: Jamie Day 56

Attendance: 745
Referee: Mr John Rowbury (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Anthony Rawlings (Bromley) & Mr Adam Bakalarz (Bromley)