6thjan05

Margate bottom of the form table

BACK in September Margate recorded a 4-2 away victory to go 15th in the table with their fourth league win of the season, writes Steve Wells.

Fielding their fourth keeper of the campaign, Margate at last found the right combination in front of both goals. But the start of the match belonged to the home side as they raced to a two-goal lead through Cook and Matthews within 20 minutes.

But Gate were on the scoreboard before the half ended when Rocky Baptists beat three players on his way to opening Gate’s account in the game.

Trailing by 1-2 at the start of the second period, Margate got on top early and largely stayed there throughout the half. Che Stadhart scored twice in 12 second half minutes (57 and 69 minutes) as the hosts’ defenders put their own keeper under too much pressure.

Baptiste scored his second of the game and Margate’s fourth after a good cross from Greg Oates. Peter Trego earned his money in the 82nd minute keeping out a Maidenhead penalty.

Margate’s recent results have the Blues at the bottom of the Nationwide South form table with just two points from a possible 18 – although the two points did come from creditable draws against Lewes and Weymouth.

The Christmas and New Year defeats to Welling cost Gate dear, and resulted in a fall to 19th in the league – their equal lowest of the campaign so far.

Chris Kinnear is unlikely to have much scope to shuffle his pack for this game. Darren Annon is out for the rest of the season and Mark Green is probably three to four weeks away from match fitness.

Greg Oates, Pat Gradley and Romauld Bouadji are all doubtful and it may be touch and go for Aaron Barnett - injured against Welling on New Year’s Day.

After a poor start to the season, Magpies have recovered form of late and while still bottom of the table on goal difference, they now sit just a point below Margate.

Maidenhead are ranked 10 in the current Nationwide South form table, taking nine points from a possible 18, with two wins and three draws – including taking four out of six points against local rivals Basingstoke over the Christmas period.

The Magpies are also one of eight teams that has accumulated more points away from home than at home.

The two key men for the visitors to Homelands could be Craig O'Connor and Lawrence Yaku who have both scored nine times this season. 

www.margate-fc.com


Margate v Maidenhead United
Saturday 8th January 2005
Nationwide Conference South
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Ashford Town FC, The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth