Margate 0-3 Waltham Abbey - I'm more aware of the size of the task now, admits O'Connell

Saturday 06th March 2010

MARGATE 0-3 WALTHAM ABBEY
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 6th March 2010
Paul Parkinson reports from Hartsdown Park

On a bitterly cold afternoon at Hartsdown Park, Margate saw this crucial six-pointer slip away against a Waltham Abbey side also involved in the relegation battle and as a consequence slumped to the foot of the Ryman Premier League table with 13 games remaining.

Two Ricci Crace goals, the second a finish worthy of winning a match on its own, and a solo effort from second half substitute, George Chanda, gave the final scoreline a lop-sided appearance, but as new boss Iain O‘Connell reflected afterwards, “We probably had 70% of possession, but in the last third we weren‘t good enough; simple as that.”

With returning fan favourite James Pinnock joining other recent new arrivals Jamie Turner, Grant Cooper, Jay Saunders and Nick Barnes in the starting line up, Margate started the game quickly.

Cooper, signed from Blue Square South side Chelmsford City, drew a good save from Abbey goalkeeper Harry Ricketts in the opening minutes, flicking an Aaron Lacy thrown towards the net, before the visitors defence had to hack clear the rebound.

Apart from long range efforts from Crace and Adam Parker, Turner‘s goal was reasonable untroubled until Waltham Abbey took the lead on 22 minutes.

Turner had to be at his best to claw James Elmes‘ free kick out of the top corner. But as the resulting corner came in, it took a flick off a Margate head before Crace deflected the ball onto the post, then stabbed the rebound home with the Margate defence rooted to the spot.

As O‘Connell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, “The first goal stemmed from a free kick that was needlessly given away from which Jamie‘s made a great save. The corner was flicked on by one of ours and they‘ve got the 2nd touch. That‘s now 4 goals in 2 games from set pieces, it‘s just not good enough.”

Five minutes later, Saunders forced a Ricketts save from another long Lacy throw, before the same combination repeated the feat in the closing minutes of the half.

Saunders looked to be the main threat at the start of the second half, seeing a goalbound header turned away by Abbey skipper Andy Keepence, then seeing another header back across goal snatched by Ricketts at the feet of Lloyd Blackman.

Abbey responded immediately with a shot from Marc Sontag turned over by Turner. From the corner, the ball bounced awkwardly in the area before being turned onto the arm of Dan Stubbs from close range. Somewhat harshly, Mr Fitch thought this was intentional and pointed to the spot.

Justice was probably served though, as Turner kept his side in the game with a stunning one-handed save low to his right from Elmes‘ penalty.

Nick Barnes tried to push Margate forward but as Blackman‘s shot came back off Ricketts, it was scrambled clear by a combination of Keepence and Lee White.

Waltham Abbey doubled their lead on 64 minutes with a moment of genius from Crace. A long free kick into the home area was flicked on by Keepence and, as the ball dropped over Crace‘s shoulder with his back to goal, the forward swivelled and hit a volley high into the net.

On 76 minutes, Sam Jones caused panic in the Abbey area. After collecting a quick corner, Jones weaved between two desperate challenges but sliced his shot past the near post.

With Margate pushing forward, Abbey scored a third on a counter attack with just three minutes left.

Substitute Chanda picked up the ball on the edge of the centre circle and drove into the area, before driving a shot across Turner into the far corner.

O‘Connell said: “I think it‘s an easy excuse (the number of new players introduced in the last two weeks), it‘s 11 v 11 out there and I really thought we had the quality on the pitch today to win the game.

“Possession wise, yeah we could, but we didn‘t really test their keeper apart from two or three Jay Saunders headers.”

“I‘m more aware of the size of the task after today, you know there‘s only so much you can do and only so many players you can sign.

“I had a lot of youngsters on the bench today; we‘ve obviously got to strengthen and it‘s going to be tough, but I still believe we can do it.

“I‘m hoping to bring one more player in, a bit of experience there, but we‘ve got to make sure we go out there and give 100%.”

“The trouble is the players have to give the fans something to shout about. There wasn‘t a lot out there, but I felt first half we were by far the better team.

“At the end of the day, their keeper has only had one save to make first half & only a couple more in the second, so you‘ve got to have something the cheer about. The supporters tried to get behind the team, but the quality wasn‘t there.”

Margate: Jamie Turner, Aaron Lacy, James Duncan, Grant Cooper, Dan Young, Jay Saunders, Dan Stubbs (Dean Grant 60), Nick Barnes, James Pinnock, Lloyd Blackman, Sam Jones.

Subs: George Anderson, John Keister, Jack Haverson, Sam Cliff.

Booked: Jamie Turner 66, Dean Grant 89

Waltham Abbey: Harry Ricketts, Jordan Bostock, Ted Llewellyn, Lee White, Andy Keepence, Adam Parker (Joe Clemo 46), Marc Sontag, James Elmes, Xaniel Doku (Billy Holland 68), Lee Sontag, Ricci Crace (George Chanda 78).

Sub: Matt Allen.

Goals: Ricci Crace 22, 64, George Chanda 87

Booked: Ricci Crace 39

Attendance: 290

Referee: Mr Carl Fitch (Ipswich, Suffolk)

Assistants: Mr C Richardson and Mr Stephen Tate (Leigh-on-Sea, Essex)