Aveley 0-3 Margate - Yorath pleased with defensive qualities

“Another good win for us tonight, and I’m delighted with the way that we bounced back from a dreadful start.”

The former Welsh international went on, “To be honest with you, our start to the season surprised me as I thought we gave it our best, but Saturday and tonight has shown what we can do.

“It could have been more than just the three and against what we were told was a good side, you can’t argue with that.”

And the Gate boss really did hit the nail on the head with that comment as his side dominated from start to finish and it took the home team 88 minutes to test Paul Nicholls with anything worthy to be called a shot.

Margate deservedly took the lead on 24 minutes, courtesy of a finely worked free-kick.

Joe Healy appeared as though he was going to shoot at goal from the edge of the D, but after a brief consultation with striker Blackman, instead played a little short pass, which the former Maidstone United striker latched onto and gleefully drove home at the near post.

On 29 minutes, the visitors’ almost doubled their lead, but Jack Haverson couldn’t direct his header goal wards after being found from an Aaron Lacy corner.

Lacy, though, was to play a huge part in the Gate’s second, which after consultations with boss Yorath have been credited as a Michael Alaile own-goal.

Lacy’s trade-mark long-throw bomb into the Aveley penalty area simply wasn’t dealt with and Healy showed quick presence of mind to turn the ball back across the face of goal, where Alaile under pressure from Blackman could only divert the ball into his own net.

On 38 minutes, skipper Ben Lewis will be disappointed that he didn’t make it onto the score sheet as his header from a Lacy corner grazed the outside of the left post.

The start of the second half was marred by an accidental injury to Aveley substitute Garry Skeritt, which led to him carried off on a stretcher after collapsing with a cry of anguish.

Margate’s domination couldn’t be stopped at this point and on 55 minutes, Blackman should have done better - dragging his shot wide of the right post when clean through.

Margate sealed the win seventeen minutes from time when Wilson, who was outstanding throughout in the midfield, picked the ball up 30-yards out and curled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Margate had further chances for an even more emphatic victory, particularly when Billy Dunn beat two players down the right, cut inside and sent a fierce drive, which keeper Jamie Lunan brilliantly turned aside, unfortunately behind the onrushing Blackman and too far in front of Healy.

Yorath admitted, “It’s still early days, but back-to-back wins with the defence playing so well is very pleasing.  

“We now go to Harrow Borough on Saturday knowing that with most London sides they will be honest and hard-working and we’ve got to match that.”

On this display Yorath should have no worries for the weekend, but the Gate boss will surely hope for another dominating away day from his charges.