Margate 3-0 Ashford Town - We're missing the cutting edge, admits Yorath

Tuesday 04th August 2009

MARGATE 3-0 ASHFORD TOWN

Pre-Season Friendly

Tuesday 4th August 2009

Paul Parkinson reports from Hartsdown Park

RYMAN Premier League hosts Margate eventually closed out a comfortable 3-0 win over Ashford Town tonight at Hartsdown Park, but only after the introduction of second half substitute, Kenny Pratt, changed the course of the game.

As manager, Terry Yorath, admitted after the game to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, ““I‘m just happy that we got the win and scored some goals. We played some good football tonight, especially second half when it told on them.

“The players have been fantastic (in pre-season). They‘ve worked hard, gelled together, but we still need a cutting edge to take into the season.”

Pratt, on as a precaution for Wayne Wilson early in the second period, was integral in the first first Margate goals, using his pace to drive at the visitor‘s defence.

His first involvement, on 62 minutes, was to break into the box, then square the ball to Dave Cory, on trial from Whitstable Town, to knock home.

A similar run and cross 12 minutes later was missed by Lloyd Blackman, but fellow sub Sam Cliff was on hand to drive the ball home through Daren Ibrahim‘s legs to double the lead.

Cliff‘s most telling involvement up to this point was to stumble over the ball while attempting a tricky turn; a comical moment that reduced skipper Ben Lewis to hysterics in the centre circle.

But the youngster, to his credit and growing in confidence, then turned in a display indicating great promise in the remainder of the game.

If the first two goals were as a result of positive on-field play, the 3rd, 4 minutes from time, was definitely from the training fields of Kent. An Aaron Lacy long throw cleared the penalty spot and Lloyd Blackman was on hand to glance a header in at the back post.

The first half was an even affair, with Ashford creating early chances for Paul Jones and Mitchell Sherwood, both of which came while the Nuts & Bolts were down to 10 men due to a blood injury.

But as the half progressed, Margate‘s height advantage at set pieces started to tell.

Cory glanced a header over the bar from Joe Healy‘s pin-point free-kick, before Curtis Robinson powered a header wide from Wilson‘s corner, with Luke Wheatley possibly better placed for the attempt.

Lewis and Blackman then saw half chances drop wide, before Lee Hockey had to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Cory the best chance of the half after intricate build-up play between Healy and Blackman.

The ever-willing Nick Smith caused a few moments of panic in the Blues‘ defence early in the second half, outpacing Lewis before trying to lob triallist Stuart Robinson from 25 yards, but the shot dropped agonisingly wide.

Once Cory had slotted in the opening goal, Margate took control of the game. At two down, both Ryan Norman and Toby Ashmore had to make desperate blocks to deny Cliff and Pratt on a quick counter-attack, before Ibrahim had to save bravely at the feet of Pratt after a flowing move from the Margate dead-ball line.

Cliff was unlucky to see a rasping left foot drive drift wide of Ibrahim‘s left post as the superior fitness of the Ryman Premier League side started to take effect.

As time ticked away, the impressive Healy unleashed a left foot 30 yarder, that dipped wickedly over the bar with the keeper beaten.

On Cory‘s performance, Yorath said, “He did well, scored a goal and we want to keep him here to have a longer look at him.””

Ashford Town boss Steve Lovell, meanwhile, was disappointed with the final result.

“I think 3-0 really flattered and especially first half, we did well, creating a couple of chances,” Lovell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“We’re still trialling a lot of players, but we‘ve got a good shape which should give a good start to the season.

“We‘re always looking to improve, but at the back we‘ve given away a lot of goals from set pieces, including one tonight late on. We‘ve got a group together now who want to play for Ashford.

“We brought boys on at the end to give them a run-out and got a bit disjointed, the two boys who went on at the back haven‘t played together before and it showed. We played very well first half but got a bit lost in the second.”

On his attacking options, Lovell added, “Nick (Smith) is a good player, lively, who we think will form a good partnership with Paul Jones. I can‘t wait for the season to start; it‘s exciting.”

Margate: Stuart Robinson (Paul Agu 80), Kieran Morris (Paul Axon 71), Curtis Robinson (Danny Young 75), Ben Lewis, (Aaron Lacy 71), Luke Wheatley, Jack Haverson, Dan Langiano, Wayne Wilson (Kenny Pratt 51), Joe Healy, Lloyd Blackman, Dave Cory (Sam Cliff 65).
Sub: Pat Mullin

Goals: Dave Cory 62, Sam Cliff 74, Lloyd Blackman 86

Ashford Town: Scott Chalmers-Stevens (Darren Ibrahim 46), Carl Harold, Ryan Norman, Lee Hockey (Toby Ashmore 68), Bryan Pear (Ben Robbins 68), Joe Fuller (Ryan Briggs 46), Tony Browne, Ross Morley (Rikki McDonald 46), Nick Smith, Paul Jones, Mitchell Sherwood (Dan Scorer 65).

Attendance: 240
Referee: Mr Keith Stone (Manston)