Our new strike partnership were excellent together, says Margate boss Iain O'Connell

Monday 31st January 2011

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell says their goal-less draw away to Harrow Borough on Saturday was “a real team effort”, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Londoners are only three points adrift of the Ryman Premier League play-off’s with 38 points from 24 games - but the Margate boss was pleased with a point at Earlsmead.

“We played really well,” he said. “A bit disappointed that we didn’t come away with three points, but at the end we could have lost it as Jamie Turner made a fantastic save.

“They’re a good side, they’re a good, breaking side, but if there was any neutral watching the game, they would have said we deserved to win the game.”

Margate sit in fourteenth place in the table with 32 points from 26 games (having collected 8 wins and 8 draws), but the Thanet side have scored 32 and conceded 32 goals.

But with the strike partnership of Shaun Welford and recent arrival from Sittingbourne, Tom Bradbrook, starting to flourish, O’Connell is confident the goals will start flowing.

He said: “The last three games at the back we’ve defended brilliantly. We’ve got to learn to take our chances, we miss a lot of chances. We’ve got a new partnership up front on Saturday, Tom and Shaun were excellent together, really caused them a lot of problems. Once that goal goes in, I think they’ll be flying.”

O’Connell added: “Tom’s a very good player. He’s gone in there and he hasn’t looked like he’s come from the league below. On Saturday, he was one of the best players out there so I think he’s going to get better.”

Margate’s next two sides are against Essex opposition, away to AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday night and at home to Billericay Town on Saturday.

The Urchins are presently in ninth place in the table with 37 points from 23 games, and Billericay are only three points better off than the Kent club, who were lucky to receive a couple of reprieves after finishing their last two seasons in the highest relegation spot, fourth-from-bottom.

Looking ahead to the trip to Hornchurch, O’Connell warned: “That will be very tough. They’re always a big, strong, physical side. We played them already once this year and we were a bit unfortunate to come out losing. They had a bad result (losing 2-0 at home to Horsham) on Saturday, so I’m just hoping we can capitalise on that.”

The boss added: “We’ve played Billericay already this year as well and we’re down to ten-men for half-an-hour and I’m just hoping we can get three points and give our home supporters something to cheer about.”

O’Connell hopes former Dover Athletic star James Rogers shakes off an ankle injury, although central midfielder Wayne Wilson has to be given the all-clear as he is presently suffering with a retina problem.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

AFC Hornchurch v Margate

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 1st February 2011

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bridge Avenue, Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX