Crowborough Athletic 2-2 Margate - If I'm disappointed not beating Margate then we've come a long way, says proud Crowborough Athletic boss Sean Muggeridge

Crowborough Athletic 2 – 2 Margate
Location	Crowborough Community Stadium, Fermor Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 3BU
Kickoff	01/11/2025 15:00

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC  2-2  MARGATE
Isthmian League South East Division
Saturday 1 November 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Alderbrook

MARGATE player-manager Ben Greenhalgh says his side have drawn too many games this season - after being given a scare by newly-promoted outfit Crowborough Athletic.

Wideman Greenhalgh, 33, scored two world-class top-corner strikes from outside the penalty area, giving his side the lead before scoring the equaliser just five minutes before full-time.

Marcus Goldsmith capped off an impressive performance for his home-town club by slotting in his fifth goal of the season to restore parity before the interval.

Crowborough Athletic attacking midfielder Harry Forster notched his seventh goal of the season, scoring direct from an inswinging corner, before Greenhalgh scored his sixth goal of the campaign with his second sublime finish, as Margate extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Crowborough Athletic – who stunned Ryan Maxwell’s Sittingbourne with a 4-0 win here in the Velocity Cup in midweek – were without Nelson Ajayi (knee), David Ajao (unavailable) and Henry Muggeridge (family) and experienced their first league draw of the season.

Margate, meanwhile, were without Sam Blackman (ankle), Brandon Davey (hip), Tom Derry (ankle), Harrison Hatfull (shoulder) and Lewis Knight (knee).

Greenhalgh said: “It was a game, we should’ve got three points. We’re coming to these places to get three points and we didn’t.

“There’s obviously a positive element that we were losing but at the same time we were winning at the beginning of the game, so disappointing.

“In general the performance wise it was really good. It was a dominating performance. We should’ve scored six or seven goals and a couple of goals we conceded were really poor and mistakes that we can’t really afford to do when you come away from home.”

Crowborough Athletic manager Sean Muggeridge said: “I thought first 15 minutes we weren’t at it. I think they scored a great goal – what a quality player by the way – but then we started having chances ourselves. 

“We didn’t make the goalkeeper work until the goal really but we were in some really good areas where we didn’t have that bit of quality but we scored and got in at half-time.

“I thought it was a milestone and second half we could’ve put the game to bed in the first 10-15 minutes.

“We scored, we had a one-v-one with the keeper, probably should’ve scored.  We had a couple of other chances, so when you don’t go 3-1 up against a quality side like that, you’re always going to get worried about (their) chances.

“I think on the reflection of the game now, I’m disappointed but proud of the players really because I think it was probably a deserved draw.  I hope Ben says the same.

“I think at the end, they had some good chances and so did we to win it but hopefully their manager will say I think both teams deserved a draw.”

When Margate dropped out of the Conference back in 2003-04, Crowborough Athletic claimed the Sussex League Division Three title and both sides met each other for the first time in a decent game of football in the eighth-tier of English football.

Both managers were asked whether it was a point gained, or two dropped.

“I’m disappointed with a draw because I think on another day, we might’ve nicked it,” said Muggeridge, who operates on a shoe-string budget, lower than Steve Ives’ budget at Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division neighbours Tunbridge Wells.

“I do think Margate are a good side. If I’m disappointed not beating Margate, then I’ve come a long way.  They’re a quality side. They’ve got a good manager and he’s a good player and they’ve got good players.   To draw is quite a milestone for us but at the end, it could’ve gone either way.”

Greenhalgh replied: “Two dropped. Same as Deal (a 2-2 away draw on 18 October), but the difference to Deal away, we didn’t perform well enough for 90 minutes. Today, I think we did enough to win the game but just made errors and characteristic errors, which is disappointing – but two dropped.”

Margate – who thrashed struggling Beckenham Town 7-2 at Hartsdown Park last weekend – started their first visit to Crowborough by playing on the front foot.

A poor clearance from recalled Crowborough goalkeeper Charlie Holmwood was knocked inside by Kane Haysman’s head and right-wing-back Tushaun-Tyresse Waters’ left-footed drive from 25-yards was pushed toward safety by a strong left hand by the diving Holmwood, diving to his left to prevent the central shot nestling inside the bottom right-hand corner after five minutes and 47 seconds.

“I think it was a good start to the half. When you come away from home against a team that’s strong at home, you’ve got to take what comes and we ended up going 1-0 up, which is something that’s good and we should’ve stayed in the game. A mistake before half-time wasn’t the right thing to be doing,” said Greenhalgh.

“TT (Walters) was causing them problems on that side. It’s just a shame that we didn’t manage (to score).  He was causing them problems, like he did last week. We need a few more goals.”

Muggeridge said: “I mean, we had a few chances to clear it and we didn’t.  It was about three in a row, I think.  One tried to clear it and then the other tried to clear it and we just didn’t clear our lines and against quality teams like that they normally punish you but luckily we didn’t get punished for that.

“Charlie got man-of-the-match last week at Three Bridges (1-0 defeat). He’s a young goalkeeper.  The good thing about Charlie, he’s got massive of improvement in him but he’s only young.  I don’t think he’s the finished article but he is very well-respected at Crowborough and me.

“He done well today. I can’t believe anyone can say he’s at fault to those two goals. I think they were just quality strikes but we’ve got to defend it better but that’s the main thing.

“We signed him last year and we won the League (Southern Combination Premier) with him and obviously he’s getting more shots at him this year and I think he’s growing in confidence as well. I’m really happy with Charlie.”

Harry Hudson’s shortish throw-on was set back by Margate’s 10-goal striker Ibrahim Olutade for Greenhalgh to smack a left-footed angled volley across the keeper and just past the far post from 30-yards, before Margate deserved their lead when it arrived with 13 minutes and 49 seconds on the clock.

Attacking midfielder Haysman played the ball in from the right wing and Greenhalgh produced a quality finish, cracking a sublime left-footed curler flying across and over the goalkeeper to find the top far corner of the goal from 30-yards.

Greenhalgh said: “Kane’s been brilliant. I’ve got to give him credit. He won the ball back, he’s probably doing more running than he has done previously but he’s enjoying it.  He managed to get it to me and I managed to open up and it was one of them. It was a good finish to get us one-nil up, which is where we wanted to be.”

Muggeridge heaped plenty of praise on Greenhalgh, who showed exactly how he earned a six-month professional contract at Italian giants Inter Milan and has played in the Scottish Premiership for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and in the highest two tiers of English non-league football earlier on in his career.

“Well, when you’ve got players like that on the pitch, they can do that,” admitted the Crowborough manager.

“I’m pretty happy that we didn’t give them a goal today.  At the end there, they had a couple of good chances. It was just two quality strikes that they scored.

“Outside the box, when you strike a ball like that, no keeper’s going to save it, so I’m happy with our defensive shape today.  I was happy with everything. It was just why can’t it hit the post and go over? You’re hoping it’s not going in the top corner but both times it did.”

Dominant Margate were to be denied a second goal at the half-way point with a well-worked counter-attacking move.

Walters rolled the ball inside to central midfielder Henry Young, who swept the ball out to Greenhalgh on the left, who easily cut inside Crowborough centre-half Harrison Mayhew before cracking a left-footed rasping drive towards goal from 18-yards, which forced Holmwood to drop down to his knees and use both of his hands to beat the ball away from within the centre of his goal.

“It was a good save. We worked it out to a position where I was free and it was an unlucky moment where we didn’t follow up the seconds,” said Greenhalgh.

“If we had followed up the seconds – and there were a couple of moments like that in the first half. If we could’ve gambled a bit better in the areas, I think we could’ve got more goals.”

Muggeridge added: “I did say at half-time, if you give him a chance on his left, then he’s going to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Crowborough Athletic started to find their way back into the game after the 25^th minute mark.

Forster played the ball out to Goldsmith on the right who ignored Connor Pring making an overlapping run and cut inside Margate’s weak link Kai Garande (left-wing-back) before feeding Forster, who took a touch before going very close with a right-footed drive from 22-yards, which only just missed the right-hand post.

Crowborough Athletic deservedly equalised with 32 minutes and 22 seconds on the clock.

Striker Stephen Smith – who scored all of Crowborough’s goals against Sittingbourne in midweek – dropped deep and hit a long diagonal into the Margate box.  Forster brought the ball down, lost the ball with a poor touch but showed great desire to win the ball back before putting it on a plate for Goldsmith, who placed his clinical left-footed drive into the bottom right-hand corner.

“We were getting in really good areas. It was just that little bit of quality and then we found the quality and scored,” said Muggeridge.

“I don’t think the keeper made a save to make so we were not getting the good chances on target. But the one we did, we scored, so I was quite happy with that.

“Margate are a good side. We struggled to get at them but we struggled in that final third but it’s really strange talking to you really. Where we’ve come from in the last four years to now, we’re talking about being slightly disappointed getting a draw against Margate.

“They’re good lads as well, they’ve got a good management team and the players. It was a pleasure to play against them.

“We have got to understand is we can’t give these teams too much respect. I don’t think we did today. We matched them and overall I thought the draw was the right result.”

Greenhalgh added: “We’ve watched them and we know they’ve got a good front three, they’re effective, they’re physical, they’re powerful and I think they will cause problems.

“I’m just disappointed. It was an uncharacteristic error where we’ve missed the ball and that puts us back in a position where we were defending and it was a good finish from the edge of the box, so it’s one that we’ve just got to accept and take and move on.”

Muggeridge was full of praise for former Hythe Town man Goldsmith, who was impressing for his home-town club.

“I don’t want to say too much because we’ll probably have a load of seven-day approaches on him again – but he’s nine out of 10 every week.

“He’s so confident and scoring goals as well. He’s technically a right-back. I’ve just made him into a right-winger but defensively he’s good, good in the air. He’s got everything to be fair and his goal today, it was what he’s all about. He gets chances because he works his socks off all the time.”

Crowborough Athletic played out from the back with Holmwood rolling the ball to Pring, before Harrison Mayhew overhit a pass towards right-back Jack Mayhew, who did well to keep the ball in play inside his own half before slipping a low through ball into Smith, who drilled a right-footed shot whistling past the left-hand post from 30-yards.

“We lost Rushaar Samuel-Smikle (to Sittingbourne) and we struggle.  We do play a little bit differently because with Rush we got in behind but with Steve we can play off him. He’s very good at holding the ball up and he’s a good finisher. We didn’t give him the right balls today at the right time in the right areas but he’s just a leader. He’s good in the changing room. He’s just a leader and I think teams do not want to play against him.”

Greenhalgh was equally impressed with Crowborough’s number nine, adding: “Their attacking nine (Smith) is probably one of the best we’ve played, so credit to them, coming into the League and being so physical and powerful, which I think is effective.”

Margate produced a sweeping counter-attacking move involving Young, Haysman and Greenhalgh before Walters played the ball back to Greenhalgh, who turned Pring and curled his right-footed shot just around the right-hand post from 16-yards.

Both manager’s were asked their thoughts at the interval.

Muggeridge said: “Well, one thing I did say was when Ben gets it on his left-foot, make sure you block that side when he’s shooting and I don’t want to say I’m right but that’s what has happened.

“Another thing I did actually think we were going to go to win it, I really did because I think the momentum was with us at the end of the first half and we came out. It was all about carry on with the good work we were doing really.

“I think it was a good half from us, defensively and offensively.”

Greenhalgh added: “It was disappointing because I didn’t feel like the game was every there to be one-all.

“They worked hard; they’re a good team. It probably wasn’t a game we should’ve been massively up but I felt we should’ve seen it out to be 1-0 up and taken it to them in the second half.”

Sunny blue skies at kick-off turned to grey stormy rain clouds during the interval with rain lashing down in East Sussex, as Crowborough Athletic forced their first corner of the game with Margate centre-half Emmanuel Oke closing the gate on Smith on the left by-line.

However, Crowborough Athletic scored from the resulting corner, their first of four, just 79 seconds into the second half.

There was a crowded goalmouth for goalkeeper Reece Hobbs to contend with. Forster delivered a right-footed inswinging corner from the left and no one got a touch on the ball as it dropped into the far corner of the goal, as Margate have conceded two goals in each of their last four games.

“I’m going to say something here, he does actually try that.  Whether he meant to do it or not, I don’t know but he does try it,” said Muggeridge.

“In this League, you get it every week. We get inswinging corners, so we said we’re going to do that because it’s a bit of a nightmare. I think he went for goal. It looked like a cross. He might’ve gone for goal but little bits of luck we haven’t been getting but we got that and I thought we were going to go on and win it.”

Greenhalgh added: “The most disappointing thing is we’ve come out for the second half, we started ok. We just gave away a corner and let in a corner.

“We know they’re good with those deliveries, so that’s something we’ve got to look at and do better. We knew they deliver balls under the bar, so we’ve got to be critical and say we should deal with it better because we spoke about it. 

“It was a great ball though.  You’ve got to look at it both ways. We should deal with it and it was a great cross as well.”

Crowborough Athletic missed a glorious chance to claim the victory with two minutes and 31 seconds on the clock.

Forster’s sublime 30-yard diagonal switch split open Margate’s debutant centre-half Harry Lawrence to put left-winger Tom Pearson in on goal but Hobbs came off his line to narrow the angle and made himself big and spread himself to make a vital block.

“I did say to people on the bench when I was talking to them, when those sort of things happen it lifts the other side,” said Muggeridge.

“Had we gone 3-1 up, I think we would’ve been fine. We’ve got to be clinical in those areas.  Tom’s done what I told him to do, to hit the target but I’ve got to have a look at the veo but we really should, if we can, put those chances away.”

Greenhalgh added: “We’ve just got a little bit caught out. We had a spell after we let in the goal for 5-10 minutes where we were probably so shocked to be losing the game.

“We were eager to go and win it and we needed to be a bit more patient. I think in the end we were patient as the game went on, a bit annoying from the 50^th minute to the 55^th.”

Greenhalgh handed Lawrence his debut, having signed him from newly-promoted side VCD Athletic and when asked about the centre-halves debut today, he replied: “Brilliant first game. Harrison (Hatfull) had a bit of a knock on his shoulder so we thought it was a game where Harry could come in and do that little bit strong defensively strong today.

“I thought he did really well. He headed the ball really well, made good moments. I think he’s going to fit in really well. He fits the bill.”

Pring’s long ball sailed over Lawrence’s head to release Forster, who cut inside Oke to reach the by-line but the angle was too tight and Hobbs narrowed the angle to beat the ball away beside his near-post (6:49).

Margate, who played with three centre-halves, weathered the storm and started to ease their way back into the game on the hour-mark, with the outstanding Greenhalgh pulling the strings.

It took Margate until close to the half-way point to create their first second half opening when Greenhalgh fizzed in a low cross from the right and Olutade had a couple of bites of the cherry to score at the far post, sweeping his shot past the near post.

Muggeridge added: “We had that one-on-one, they had that good chance. It was a bit like a basketball game really, weren’t it?

“We were dropping a little bit too deep, I think, when it was 2-1. I wouldn’t say they were on top. We were trying to hit them on the break.  They had a bit more possession, so it was hard to defend, which I did think we defended relatively well. It was disappointing at the end there.”

The final 20 minutes was an open affair.  Crowborough Athletic were a threat on the counter-attack with the impressive Forster driving forward on the break before Goldsmith’s quality first-time diagonal releasing Pearson, who cut inside and curling his right-footed shot harmlessly wide of the far post from 25-yards.

The home side had a three-v-three counter-attacking raid in the 74^th minute when Pring released Smith, before feeding Forster, before substitute striker Victor Aiyelabola teed up holding midfielder Pring, who took a touch before drilling his right-footed drive past the left-hand post from 22-yards.

Greenhalgh drilled a dipping left-footed free-kick from 35-yards, which was comfortably saved by Holmwood in his midriff (37:37) as Margate continued to press for an equaliser.

Margate deservedly scored their equaliser with 39 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock, courtesy of more Greenhalgh magic and Haysman’s second assist of the game.

Haysman played a 20-yard pass out to Greenhalgh on the right, who from just outside the corner of the penalty area, cut inside and onto his left foot before curling a sublime shot into the top far corner from 30-yards (distance travelled).

A modest Greenhalgh said: “It was one of them. I’ve gone down on my right a couple of times and put in some crosses and shots, so I managed to give myself a bit of yardage on to my left and once I got there, there was one position I was going in and it was great to get it to 2-2.”

When asked whether he was happy with his six-goal haul so far this season, Greenhalgh, who has scored 79 career goals for Margate, replied: “Yes, I probably say that’s where I should be but I’ve always been more assists. I think I’ve got 14 assists so far this season and that’s something that I always pride myself on.

“I think there’s an element at Margate Football Club, I look to get goals and add goals to the tally. I think I’m on about nearly 85 at the moment so I’m pushing for the 100, let’s see if I can get there this season.”

Muggeridge admitted: “It’s a goal to celebrate really, even though it’s against us, because those two strikes were, you can call them world class really.  They were right in the top corner. You couldn’t do anything about them. I don’t think any goalkeeper could do anything about them.

“I mean, could we have done better? Probably. We probably should’ve made sure he went on the outside but to be fair he can go on the outside as well. He’s just not a one trick pony. He’s got everything that boy, he’s got everything. He’s good in the air, he’s strong. He’s got both feet, the left is one you really have to look at, got to be careful of as we’ve seen today.

“It’s nice to see players like that. You don’t see quality like that a lot of times in the league we were in, so although I’m really, really disappointed, I think I’ve seen a couple of special moments from a very good player.”

Margate kept knocking on the door for a late winner.

Greenhalgh hit a long ball forward and Haysman’s left-footed chip from 25-yards sailed over the crossbar but their best chance fell to Olutade (47:14).

The otherwise quiet, substitute winger Kieron Agbebi sprung to life, fizzing in a great cross from the right and Olutade’s left-footed half-volley was lashed high over the crossbar from six-yards.

“It just wasn’t one of those days for Ibz, on another day he scores a hat-trick. I said that to him in the changing room and we win the game 5-2 but he’s missed them today and he’ll take a bit of accountability for that. He’s a really good professional and he’ll go again Saturday and hopefully score them,” added Greenhalgh.

Muggeridge added: “We were getting nervous because we conceded. If we had stayed another five minutes of not conceding, I think we’d be alright. We have in the past lost games like that, but he’s hit it over. Charlie’s made himself big, he’s got caught in the end there but he’s made himself look big, so I’m going to put it down to good goalkeeping – and a bad miss!”

Margate sit in eighth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table, having picked up 22 points (five wins, seven draws and three defeats) from their 15 games, only four points adrift of the play-offs.

Margate welcome eleventh-placed side Broadbridge Heath – 4-1 home winners at home to third-from-bottom newly-promoted side VCD Athletic today – to Hartsdown Park next Saturday.

“Probably a similar team to today. On their day, they’re good, so we’re going to be on it. We’ve performed really well at home this season and we’re going to take it to them and hopefully we can do what we did against Beckenham and start sharp and keep getting goals,” said Greenhalgh, who was asked to reflect on his position in the top eight.

“Not where we want to be. It’s not as many points, too many draws, that’s the bottom line, it’s too many draws and sometimes that can be because of injuries and the continuity isn’t quite there and the consistency of the team isn’t quite there.

“We haven’t been able to play the same 11 in any game of football yet, so I think that plays a part and I think that’s why we’ve been drawing (seven) games of football but there is an element where you can go we’re not losing many games. We’re five games unbeaten. It should be five wins in my opinion but there’s been a couple of games earlier on in the season we didn’t perform well and we got a draw, now we’re performing well and getting a draw as well, so it’s not ideal. It’s not where we want to be but there’s a building base at least.”

When asked about his aspirations for this season, the Margate manager replied: “It’s always promotion. We’ve taken some serious hits this year with injuries and having to play different teams, different formations.

“I think were in a good place at the moment. We’re just not picking up three points enough. But look, we’re a team that never gives up, never dies. We’ve had a couple of late equalisers and today some reason we were losing and got it back to a draw.

“The positive thing is we didn’t lose.  They’ve (only lost twice at home in the League this season), so I think they will be good.”

Crowborough Athletic, meanwhile, are over-achieving in fourteenth-place in only their second campaign at this division, having picked up 19 points (six wins, one draw and seven defeats) from their 14 league games.

“I mean, if you would’ve told me that, I’d probably would’ve said you were lying really because it’s our first draw. To win six games and draw one in this league already, considering last time we was in it (in 2008-09) we finished bottom (four wins, four draws and 34 defeats) and we’ve got 19 points already.

“It’s down to the hard work of everyone at the club really. We didn’t want to be in this League just to be gun fodder – and we haven’t.

“It’s just hard work. You know the situation. We’re not going to have a big budget. I’ve tried to get players in, obviously it’s not possible with the wages we pay but we’ve got 13 or 14 locally based players. I think that shows today, it shows the grit and determination to get that draw today.”

Muggeridge, who said he has a current squad of 22-23 players, revealed he is going to make changes for Tuesday night’s trip to Sheppey United in the Velocity Cup Third Round.

Kevin Watson’s side are in tenth-place (22 points, seven wins, one draw and seven defeats) having won 3-1 at Deal Town today.

“It’s the Velocity Cup, there will be players’ that are going to get minutes. I’m not going to lie to you because we can’t have players on the bench that are not fit, so its probably going to probably a lot of different players playing on Tuesday.

“Cup games are important to me. I’ve been to four or five finals, only won one of them so I will be taking it seriously and I think the players that will come in are good enough anyway, so it’s trying to balance the squad.

“I’m learning you can’t make mistakes. Nine times out of 10 you get punished if you make a mistake. Strength, it’s a lot stronger in this League, physically and technically, they’re just better players.

“The main thing is the quality. You concede two goals like that today, we didn’t make a mistake really. It’s just quality. Obviously, not picking him up or closing him down earlier enough but that’s what happens.

“I’m learning we can’t make mistakes. We can’t take too many risks because if you take risks in this League, you’ll get punished.”

Survival is the name of the game for Muggeridge this season – his side have won four and lost two league games at home and they are eight points clear of the relegation zone that contains Ashford United, VCD Athletic, Beckenham Town and East Grinstead Town.

“Mid-table will be great. If I’m saying play-offs, then I’m being too over-confident, I think people will say.  If I say just to stay up, then I’m too negative, so I’m going to say middle of the table for this club in the first season (back) in the Isthmian League, a quality League, would be a fantastic achievement for all the club and the players.”

Crowborough Athletic: Charlie Holmwood, Jack Mayhew, Josh Turner, Connor Pring, Harrison Mayhew, Tom Boddy, Tom Pearson (Victor Aiyelabola 73), Alex Laing, Stephen Smith, Harry Forster (Alfie Lambden 89), Marcus Goldsmith.
Subs: Mohamed Zabadne, Harry London, Nana Asamoah Appau Bah

Goals: Marcus Goldsmith 33, Harry Forster 47

Booked: Marcus Goldsmith 29, Stephen Smith 45, Tom Pearson 63, Josh Turner 82

Margate: Reece Hobbs, Tushaun-Tyresse Walters (Kieron Agbebi 60), Kai Garande, Emmanuel Oke, Harry Lawrence, Harry Hudson, Ben Greenhalgh, Max Walsh, Ibrahim Olutade, Kane Haysman, Henry Young (Jack Peters 70).
Subs: Harrison Hatful, Kelechi Nkwocha, Joseph Kpaka

Goals: Ben Greenhalgh 14, 85

Booked: Max Walsh 82

Attendance: 332
Referee: Mr Michael Ryan
Assistants: Mr Joshua Plumb & Mr Alexander Hollis