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Thursday 01st September 2005

Gradley settles it

Saturday 30th July 2005	Pre-Season Friendly	Neil Sanders reports from Maidstone Road
Chatham Town	0
Margate	1	Gradley 66

Margate controlled most of the early possession and created two chances in the opening 15 minutes. Green made a good save low to his right and was then grateful to have a powerful header by Dean directed straight a him from a corner.

Midway through the half Denness pressured the Margate defence and forced a scuffed clearance. Cass picked up the loose ball but his shot was saved. Chatham's best chance of the first period fell to teenager Byron Walker who latched on to a pass through the centre of the visitors defence, but saw his shot well saved. Whiteman came close for Margate just before half time after he went past two defenders only to have his low shot saved.

After the break Cass and Walker combined well, but again the keeper came out on top. On the hour mark Chatham came under a spell of heavy pressure as Margate dominated possession with some slick passing. This eventually led to the only goal when Gradley's shot from the 18 yard line was deflected in off Boyle after 66 minutes.

In the closing stages Margate continued to go forward as both teams made a number of substitutions, but the Chatham defence held firm.

Chatham Town: Green, Garrett, D.Larkin (Middleton), A.Larkin, Bourne, Best (Solly), Denness (Wallond), Searle (Lyons), Cass, Brookes (Boyle), Walker (Finn).

Margate: Mitten, Oates, Green, Edwards, Barnett, Heero, Keister, Gradley, Whiteman, Fidyk, Sacha. Subs: Arojugan, Junju, Nnumudi, Dean, Osman, Birmingham, Hillaire.

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