It's going to be hard to get out of relegation now - O'Connell

Sunday 11th April 2010

MARGATE manager Iain O’Connell was left stunned by his side’s disappointing end to a game that they had controlled for most of the 90 minutes against surprise package Aveley yesterday.

Aveley grabbed a 3-2 win at Hartsdown Park yesterday - despite Margate being 2-1 up with just four minutes of normal time remaining.

“I just can’t believe the boys have thrown it away,” O’Connell told www.margate-fc.com.

“We’re 2-1 up with four minutes of normal time left and they’re still trying to play balls through instead of just trying to take it into the corner.

“They didn’t really trouble us all day until the last three minutes.

Margate hadn’t looked troubled by the Essex side pushing for play off place except for the goals; and while O’Connell bemoaned the defensive work for Martin Tuohy’s 73rd minute equaliser, it was with some disbelief that he reflected on the two goals conceded in added time. A header that didn’t need to be made and an absence of cover for what proved to be the winning goal; “I just don’t know where we went for that,” was the manager’s comment.

The defeat leaves Margate fourth-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table - but Bognor Regis Town, Maidstone United and Waltham Abbey, who are below them, all have three games in hand over them.

Margate - without a win in their last four games - have collected 42 points and must collect maximum points against Tooting & Mitcham (away on Saturday) and at home to play-off chasing Hastings United on the final day of the season - to stand any chance of beating the drop.

“It’s going to be hard to get out of relegation trouble now,” admitted the gutted O’Connell.

Quotes courtesy of www.margate-fc.com