Carshalton Athletic 1-2 Margate - Of course we can definitely stay up, says upbeat O'Connell

Tuesday 30th March 2010

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 1-2 MARGATE
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 30th March 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Colston Avenue

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell paid tribute to his players work ethic as their seven match unbeaten run has clawed the Thanet club out of the Ryman Premier League relegation zone with six games remaining.

Goals from experienced campaigners James Pinnock and Jay Saunders won this vital “six-pointer” and now leaves Carshalton Athletic - and the pair’s former club Maidstone United - inside the relegation zone.

“I think the boys were brilliant, it‘s the best they‘ve played,” a glowing O’Connell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk as he emerged from the cramped away dressing room at Colston Avenue.

“On a bad pitch, first half the football we played, we absolutely smashed them. Unfortunately we had an official who was very, I don’t know, I’ve got to be careful what I say, very one way.

“He’s given them a free-kick that wasn’t - and they scored the equaliser - with about two minutes of the first half left, which was disappointing, but second half we got the winner and we deserved it!”

Margate played some attractive football on a pitch that survived heavy downpours in the hours leading up to the game and the Kent side brought the very best out of Carshalton Athletic goalkeeper Nick Hamann after seventeen minutes.

The goalkeeper pulled off an excellent save to his left to push away a right-footed 30-yard drive from Dan Stubbs, which was heading towards the top right-hand corner, after the impressive Sam Jones found the central midfielder with a square pass from the left.

More attractive football carved open the Carshalton defence as Margate drew first blood in this relegation battle after 29 minutes.

Left-wing back, Curtis Robinson slipped the ball to Stubbs, who played the ball inside for striker Pinnock, who slid the ball past Hamann to find the bottom near corner.

Carshalton, meanwhile, were dangerous from set-pieces and Rob Watkins floated in a free-kick towards the far post, which right-back David Ray headed straight at Jamie Turner in the Margate goal.

Margate came agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Saunders unleashed a stunning left-footed volley, which beat Hamann but clipped the inside of the left-hand post and bounced across the face of goal but towards safety.

O’Connell rued his luck as Carshalton Athletic equalised moments later.

Dangerous striker, Richard Jolley, fired in an angled shot from inside the penalty area and Dan Young acrobatically hooked the ball off the line from underneath his crossbar and a strong hand from goalkeeper Turner managed to pat the ball away - but substitute Neil Lampton smashed a low shot into the back of the net.

“The first goal was brilliant,” praised Margate’s third manager of a disappointing season.

O’Connell added: “Jay hit an absolute screamer. The trouble is when that happens the ones that cross the line and don’t go in, you think ‘Oh No!” You know, they go up the other end, get a free-kick that wasn’t and get a scruffy equaliser, which was a bit disappointing.

“But I just said to the boys, you’ve got to get out second half and do what you did (during the first) half - and they did that apart from a dozy first ten minutes of the second half.

“For the rest of the game we created other things. To get the winner when, we did we really deserved it.”

Carshalton Athletic put Margate on the back foot during the early parts of the second half and Byron Harrison’s downward header at the far post (following Tommy Williams’ corner from the right) was cleared off the line.

Margate twice went close after Aaron Lacy swung in a corner from the right in the 56th minute as striker Leroy Huggins and Saunders both had efforts cleared off the line in a goal-mouth scramble.

Harrison should have done better (when he met another Williams cross) but he headed straight at a well-positioned Turner at his near post, before the Margate keeper pulled off his best save of the game when Williams’ dangerous free-kick took a deflection and was destined to roll into the bottom far corner before the giant stopper did what he does best.

Sensing their fourth win in seven games, defender Grant Cooper joined an attack and flashed a 25-yard drive towards goal, the ball flashed agonisingly past the foot of the far post, with the Carshalton keeper beaten.

But Margate’s efforts were richly rewarded when Saunders netted the winning goal with ten minutes remaining.

Lacy floated in a free-kick from ten-yards outside the Carshalton penalty area and after substitute Dean Grant’s shot was blocked on the line, Saunders was on hand to steer the ball into the back of the net.

Nearly seven minutes of time added on (including a four minute delay when Saunders’ ball up field knocked referee David Spain off his feet, thus needing treatment) were soaked up and the final whistle brought jubilant scenes as the travelling Margate faithful chanted “staying up!”

“It (was) a massive game but these are just like every game for me,” added Essex resident O’Connell.

“We’ve got to keep our run going. As I say, we beat (league leaders) Dartford the other week. It doesn’t matter who we beat, we’ve just got to play like that against anyone we come up against and we’re not going to be far wrong!”

With the physiological boost of climbing outside the relegation zone tonight, O’Connell knows his side cannot afford to slip up when basement side Bognor Regis Town visit Hartsdown Park on Saturday.

O’Connell then takes his side to play-off chasing Tonbridge Angels on Easter Monday, before ending their campaign against Wealdstone, Aveley, Tooting & Mitcham United and Hastings United.

Recent performances have proved to the former Great Wakering Rovers boss - and former Margate defender - that Ryman Premier League survival is achievable.

“I’ll be successful if the boys keep us up,” said O’Connell.

“Of course we can definitely stay up, but it’s down to the belief of the lads and obviously the passion and desire to go and win the game. That’s what they’ve shown me so far.”

Carshalton Athletic: Nick Hamann, David Ray, Rob Watkins, Justyn Roberts (Neil Lampton 9), Tommy Williams, Adrian Toppin, Barry Stevens, Ricardo Joseph, Byron Harrison, Richard Jolly, Rashid Kamara (Pico Pelayo Gomez 76).

Subs: Luke Badiali, Jimmy Hearn, Domenico Casciato

Goal: Neil Lampton 44

Booked: Adrian Toppin 46, Rob Watkins 82, Barry Stevens 90

Margate: Jamie Turner, Aaron Lacy, Curtis Robinson, Tommy Osborne, Grant Cooper, Dan Young, Dan Stubbs, Jay Saunders, Leroy Huggins (Dean Grant 77), James Pinnock, Sam Jones.

Subs: Lloyd Blackman, Sam Groombridge, Wayne Wilson, Aleks Krunic

Goals: James Pinnock 29, Jay Saunders 80

Booked: Jay Saunders 58, Dan Stubbs 85

Attendance: 201

Referee: Mr David Spain (Westfields, East Sussex)

Assistants: Mr Timothy Hatt (Redhill, Surrey) & Mr Nicholas Brown (Redhill, Surrey)