We weren't up for the fight, admits Yorath

MARGATE boss Terry Yorath complained about the lack of passion from his side during the Thanet derby on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Two wonder strikes from Steffan Ball and Jay May ensured Ramsgate won 2-0 at Southwood Stadium - and the Rams can climb out of the drop zone with a home win over in-form Dartford tomorrow night.

But Margate’s 13^th league defeat of the season leaves them in the bottom four and Yorath, who was speaking to BBC Radio Kent, admits he must go back to the drawing board ahead of next Saturday’s home game against champions-elect Dover Athletic.

Dover Athletic have a 100% record from 11 home games this season and swept aside Maidstone United by three goals to nil on Saturday - and are a whopping 17 points clear of second placed Staines Town with 19 games left to play.

“It’s my first local derby and some of my players’ local derby, unfortunately they weren’t up for it,” said the disappointed Welshman.

“I thought Ramsgate deserved to win the game, two great strikes, but we just didn’t play football the way we’re capable of playing.

“Sometimes when you lose a game you still come away with some shed of comfort, but today we couldn’t.

“To say it’s a local derby, I think it was quite a passionate display by Ramsgate. That’s the way Ramsgate play anyway, we expected that. The players’ were told about it before the game.

“It’s whether you’re man enough to cope with it but I don’t think we had.”

Yorath revealed he will have two training sessions ahead of the visit of a side that will be playing Blue Square South football next August as Andy Hessenthaler’s men are destined to clinch back-to-back titles.

“I’ll look forward to that,” said Yorath. “I wish it was this week, when we had a good win last week.
“Now I’ve got to go back to Margate and rethink. We’ve got two training sessions this week so maybe we can get the reward there.”

It has been a depressing year for everybody at Hartsdown Park and Yorath wants a happier 2009.

He added: “A lot (has) been going on with the Inland Revenue, the planning permission for the new clinic and very mixed results, so hopefully 2009 will be a better year.”

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

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com

Visit BBC Radio Kent’s website: www.bbc.co.uk/kent

Margate v Dover Athletic
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 3^rd January 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate CT9 5QZ