Margate looking to bounce back

Margate welcome Walton & Hersham to Hartsdown Park for tomorrow's Ryman League Premier Division clash, writes Steve Wells –
www.margate-fc.com


The first match between the sides earlier in the season finished all square – Margate’s seventh draw in succession.

Gate’s first opening of the game came after half an hour when Dean Standen crossed from the right to the near-post, but Gavin McGowan’s shot was deflected wide.

Ellis Remy then squared for Daniel Sacha but he drove well wide of the far-post. However, the Margate midfielder made amends on 39 minutes curling a left-footed free kick into the top right corner to put the Blues ahead.

But just as it looked as if Margate would leave Stompond Lane with all three points, the ball came to Mark Nwokeji inside the right of the box, and although Mitten got his hands to the ball, Nwokeji’s shot was struck with such power he could not prevent the ball fizzing inside his near-post.

Margate’s recent improvement in form – the Blues are currently ranked six despite two consecutive 1-0 defeats - has coincided with similar improvements for Harrow and Slough, so progress up the league table has been limited. But, there is now a five point gap down to Hendon who currently sit fourth from bottom in the last potential relegation spot.

The scoring charts for Margate are currently topped by Danny Hockton and Bertie Brayley. But they only just equal / surpass two former strikers; Ellis Remy and Adolf Amoako. Could this match be the opportunity for Margate’s hit men to extend their lead over the former players?

The loss of last weekend’s home fixture against Windsor & Eton – rearranged for Tuesday, 4^th April - was obviously a disappointment, but it did allow manager Chris Kinnear the opportunity to slip in an extra training session – which in a throw-back to the past, took place on the playing field next to the Hartsdown Park stadium.

Kinnear will be hoping for the return of Anthony Allman and Pat Gradley – missing for the visit of Wimbledon. The confirmed signing of midfielder Laurence Yiga despite strong interest from Chelmsford City is welcome news, and his appearance on the right (if selected) will provide more balance to the side; arguably missing in the midweek clash with the Dons a week and a half ago.

Walton and Hersham gained promotion to the Premier Division following a second place finish in last season Ryman League Division One – nine points behind champions Wimbledon. This season, the Swans have kept pace with their more illustrious rivals and currently sit just outside the play-off places.

The Surrey outfit are enjoying a good vein of form having taken 12 from a possible 18 points in their last six league games, following four victories and two defeats. However, these four victories have come against teams in the bottom seven. Depending on Staines’ result, a win at Hartsdown could catapult the Swans into the fourth play-off spot.

With Mark Nwokeji no longer at the club, Bobby Traynor and Neil Lampton have carried the goal-scoring burden for the Swans.

The form table would suggest that this should be a close game, but Margate will need to improve on their last two performances that concluded with 1-0 defeats.