Kingstonian 2-0 Margate - We could've got something from the game, admits Butler

Sunday 31st January 2010

KINGSTONIAN 2-0 MARGATE
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 31st January 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Kingsmeadow Stadium

MARGATE boss Mark Butler today hinted that veteran midfielder John Keister (who is presently suspended for 2 weeks on a misconduct charge) could be heading out of Hartsdown Park to free up some funds for two or three new players.

When asked whether he can bring new players into the club, Butler, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk said: “We’ve been in a situation where we’ve had to reduce, reduce, reduce. Things could develop on that. We’ve got one or two outstanding issues, which I’m not prepared to comment on at the minute, which could make the budget a little bit easier.

“The chairman’s backed me on one or two enquiries that we’ve made for two or three players but I just think we need two or three more bodies to have in the dressing room as well.

“We’ve got to look long and hard but it’s finances and everybody wants the best deal that they can get an we’re finding it difficult at the moment to bring in the right player on the right wage.”

Margate remained in the relegation zone after suffering a 2-0 defeat to a Kingstonian side that have jumped three places into second place, ten points behind Dartford.

Central defender John Fletcher applied the finishing touch in a goal-mouth scramble to give the hosts a 19th minute lead and they grabbed a second on the counter attack at the end of the game as Margate threw bodies forward in search for a late equaliser through substitute Dean Lodge, who scored his ninth goal of the season.

Margate picked up two second half injuries as Ben Clarke (groin) and striker Anthony Joseph (hip) hobbled off.

Kingstonian’s 24-goal striker, Bobby Traynor had four chances inside the opening six minutes as the home side started on the front foot.

Right-back, Matt Gray, who delivered a number of crosses throughout the game as he got forward at every opportunity, whipped in a cross, which was fired in by left-back Francis Duku and Traynor diverted the ball into Matt Reed’s grateful arms after just 37 seconds.

Margate’s first chance quickly followed when goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey - who was awarded the man-of-the-match award - make a comfortable save from Lloyd Blackman’s left-footed free-kick from 25-yards.

Gray’s second corner of the game was cut back to Traynor, who struck a first-time drive with his left-foot, which flashed just past the foot of the near post and the prolific striker met yet another Gray cross with a glancing header, which was caught by Reed.

Margate went close to scoring in the 15th minute from a set-piece of their very own.

Dan Stubbs swung in a corner from the left and Joseph’s bullet header was at the right height for Tolfrey to tip over.

But Kingstonian broke the deadlock after 19 minutes, and yet again Gray was in the thick of the action.

His cross was met at the far post by the giant Duku, who headed the ball into the danger area and Fletcher was on hand to stab the ball over the line - in a crowded six-yard box - from just a couple of yards out.

Kingstonian striker, Carl Wilson-Denis, who has netted 10 goals this season, was a livewire throughout the game, and having shrugged past two Margate defenders, he was thwarted by Reed.

Kingstonian created a couple more good chances early in the second half, before the game was contested in the middle of the park, before the Kent side created a couple of good chances of their own to level, only for K’s to grab a second on the break.

Mo Harkin cut the ball back to Traynor, who drilled a left-footed drive just past the foot of the near post, following a deflection off Sam Groombridge.

Duku was destined to score from Gray’s resulting corner, but Reed pulled off an excellent reflex save as the defender rifled in a shot from just six-yards.

Having weathered the storm, Margate almost grabbed an 83rd minute equaliser, when, following a move involving substitute Sam Cliff and Blackman, the ball was played to an unmarked Stubbs, who cracked a stunning right-footed volley, which brought the very best out of Tolfrey.

Another chance swiftly followed when Stubbs found Blackman inside the box and his cut back was struck by substitute Wayne Wilson, which trickled towards goal, but the diving Tolfrey got a slight touch as the ball bounced agonisingly off the foot of the left-hand post.

Margate were punished for going all out for an equaliser, as Kingstonian grabbed a second 153 seconds into time added on.

Aaron Lacy was the last Margate defender as he was positioned on the half-way line and instead of launching the ball forward, he lost possession to Lodge, who raced through the middle of the pitch and sold Reed a dummy before rounding the former Tonbridge Angels keeper to stab the ball into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

“I don’t think 2-0 was appropriate,” said Butler. “I thought we did do enough to might have got a draw on another day.

“We had some good chances; I know Anthony Joseph had a header first half and Stubbs’ had two. We had Lloyd Blackman through maybe where he should’ve maybe squared it and Wayne Wilson shot as well.

“I was disappointed with the first 55 minutes of the game, maybe an hour of the game, when I just felt it was a bit of an non-event.

“I felt that both teams were half cancelling one another out and we were probably losing that battle, not massively, but we just didn’t oppose ourselves.

“We changed things when we went a goal down and we looked better for it and you always ask yourself the question is it because you’ve changed the system or is it because you’re one-nil down?

“What I do know we did look a lot better for it and their keeper got man-of-the-match. I don’t think we deserved to win today, but if we did get a draw I don’t think anyone would’ve complained.”

Butler was disappointed with the two goals that his side conceded, but stuck up for Lacy, whose error lead to Kingstonian wrapping up the win.

“It was probably the last attack of the game, everybody says it, you don’t want to do it, but you may as well go down two, trying to draw one-all,” said Butler.

He added: “I do think Aaron could’ve defended a bit better. He’s trying to win it to set us up to have another attack because he’s probably thinking we haven’t got any more time so he’s got to take a gamble.

“What I’m saying to you is you have to take into consideration the situation of the game. If we’re drawing 0-0 Aaron Lacy has made a horrendous blunder but in the situation he’s trying to win it back to put it back into the area where we’ve got eight players and if he does that and we score he’s done marvellous.

“The second goal, of course, it killed us, we had to try.”

The 44-year-old, however, remained upbeat, despite his side’s position still in the relegation zone.

“This is perhaps not such a good performance,” he said. “We had 20 good minutes today and we still could’ve come away with something.

“I’ve gone on record saying this is going to be the most difficult place to come. I think they’re second place in the league now and we could’ve got a 1-1 draw.”

Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Matt Gray (Rob Sheridan 88) John Fletcher, Adam Thompson, Francis Duku, Simon Huckle, Luke Hickie (Lee Hall 67), Mo Harkin, Bobby Traynor, Carl Wilson-Denis (Dean Lodge 89), Christian Jolly.
Subs: Tommy Williams, Grant Fisher.

Goals: John Fletcher 19, Dean Lodge 90

Booked: Matt Gray 25

Margate: Matt Reed, Aaron Lacy, Curtis Robinson, James Duncan, Sam Groombridge, Dan Young, Dan Stubbs, Joe Healy, Lloyd Blackman, Anthony Joseph (Sam Cliff 67), Ben Clarke (Wayne Wilson 50).
Subs: Luke Wheatley, Antonio Gonella, George Anderson.

Booked: Dan Young 69

Attendance: 347
Referee: Mr Robert Smith (New Addington, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Stefan Malczewski (Ashstead, Surrey) & Mr William Davis