Margate 2-2 Folkestone Invicta - Look, we'll take it because it's a scrambled goal but it shows the character of the team, says Margate boss Reece Prestedge

Margate 2 – 2 Folkestone Invicta
Location	Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ
Kickoff	16/09/2023 15:00

MARGATE  2-2  FOLKESTONE INVICTA
The Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 16 September 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Hartsdown Park

MARGATE manager Reece Prestedge says his side showed character after grabbing a last-gasp equaliser against ten-man Folkestone Invicta in this enthralling FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie at Hartsdown Park.

Folkestone Invicta took only 153 seconds to open the scoring when Ibrahim Olutade powered home a header to score his fifth goal of the season.

However, Folkestone Invicta lost their left-back Makhosini Ryan-Khayne in the 57^th minute for picking up his second yellow card from referee Joshua Langley-Feining.

Margate striker Steve Cawley restored parity with 16 minutes remaining, with his fifth goal of the season, before two substitutes came off the bench with great impact for each Kent coastal side.

Folkestone Invicta thought they had grabbed the victory with four minutes remaining, through a sublime 25-yarder from substitute striker Ira Jackson.

But Margate kept knocking at the door and impressive right-winger Antonis Vasiliou, 22, scrambled in a last-gasp leveller to force a replay at Cheriton Road on Tuesday night.

“Probably a very good game for the neutral,” said Prestedge.

“For us, how the game ended probably (we’re feeling) a little bit frustrated and disappointed that we didn’t put that to bed, especially when they went down to 10 men.  You’ve got to control the game. You’ve got to be on the front foot and I think we got the goal, but I think we went a little bit gung-ho trying to get the second one and we really didn’t need to.

“I think we could’ve moved it around more, be patient, get more balls into the box and we probably could’ve come away with a win.”

Folkestone Invicta joint-manager Roland Edge said: “The typical FA Cup tie that everybody travels to come to watch.  I mean for myself and Mev (Micheal Everitt), we’ve probably had nicer Cup ties when you go down to 10 but for a neutral who came here today, what a game! It had everything and we take it on to Tuesday, don’t we?”

Margate went into this tie sitting in 12^th place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table with nine points from six games, while Folkestone Invicta were in tenth-place in the pecking order with 10 points from their six league outings.

Margate beat Hendon 3-2 in The FA Cup First Qualifying Round, while Folkestone Invicta defeated Hartley Wintney 4-0 to set up this Kent coastal clash.

Folkestone Invicta came out with all guns blazing, creating their first goalscoring chance after only 70 seconds.

Andy Drury’s through ball released central striker David Smith down the heart of the pitch and he shrugged off the attentions of Margate centre-half Tyrone Sterling and the ball fell to Scott Heard, who swept his shot past the foot of the near post from eight-yards.

“Heardy is a very good player and I think he’ll have a little look at that and think why on earth did I strike it?  I could’ve just passed it into an empty net but hindsight,” added Edge.

“We did start bright, I agree with that, got into the right positions, it was just unfortunate he didn’t punish them for it.”

However, Folkestone Invicta took the lead with two minutes and 33 seconds on the clock following their next raid.

The impressive Heard played a one-two with Jordan Ababio down the right and whipped in a great cross from within the right channel for Ababio to power his header past Harry Seaden in the centre of his goal.

Edge said: “What a way to rectify the miss. He (Heard) gets it out there and he hits a hell off a ball. Ibs attacks the space and straight at the goalkeeper, goalkeeper stood no chance!”

Prestedge said: “Disappointed.  You don’t want to concede so early.  You leave yourselves a mountain to climb and the game after that was about five minutes, a bit of erratic play, a bit of back and forth.

“We moved the ball really well. I thought we kept it well in certain situations but we didn’t cause them too many problems.”

Margate attacking midfielder Ben Greenhalgh played the ball out to left-winger Phil Roberts, who easily cut inside and his deflected cross was flicked towards goal by Cawley’s head, which was comfortably gathered by Joshua Strizovic, who is on loan from National League side Dagenham & Redbridge.

Margate weathered the early Folkestone Invicta storm and Greenhalgh’s left-footed delivery was on the money in the 14^th minute.

A floated free-kick from the right found Sterling unmarked at the near post and his header skimmed the top of the crossbar before dropping behind for a goal-kick, as the 35-year-old aimed for the top far corner.

“That’s what we said at half-time,” revealed the Margate boss.

“Balls in the box, for us, were good and that’s what we’re good at. We score most of our goals from crosses and on another day, that might go in.”

Edge said: “It’s funny that isn’t it?  You’ve probably got a whole report full of ‘excellent delivery’ and his delivery was excellent today.

“To be fair, with all of the possession football that they had, all of their threats came from dead balls really.  I can’t see it as a dead ball because they had a man over, they had time and space to deliver and luckily it hit the bar because it was a good header too.”

Folkestone Invicta centre-half Will Moses launched a long ball forward, which was knocked down by Olutade and Ababio’s right-footed drive from 18-yards was comfortably saved by Margate keeper Seaden in his midriff in the 29^th minute.

“It was nice link up play, I agree with that,” said Edge.

“Jordan drove inside like he did in the last FA Cup round, no disrespect to the keeper in the last round, this one’s better quality and he’s just like picking cherries. He caught it.

“I think on reflection Jordan might have tried something different but look, scoring goals is the hardest part in football. He thought it was doo-able. I don’t blame him for shooting.”

Prestedge added: “That was bread and butter for your goalkeeper.  You want to try to limit as many chances as possible.”

Margate won the corner-count by six to two and another headed opportunity came within the second phase of their first flag-kick.

Greenhalgh swung the ball in from the right and Strizovic used both of his outstretched fists to punch the ball out of his penalty area.

However, Margate winger Fyn Rutherford rolled the ball back out to Greenhalgh, who cut the ball onto his left foot to recycle the ball back into the box where Roberts found a pocket of space at the near post to plant his header over.

Heard was dominating the midfield for Folkestone Invicta in the first half and was in oceans of space inside the centre-circle and floated a cross into the Margate box for Ababio to run onto the floated ball but his first time flick flashed harmlessly wide.

“It was unlucky really but it was a hell of a ball but your kind of needing to be a Premier League level to control it and do something with it,” admitted Edge.

“He fizzed it right through a tight gap, Jordan’s made a great run but like I say very hard to bring down and make something of it.”

Both Prestedge and Edge were asked about their thoughts going into the break.

Prestedge said he was confident that his side could turn it around in the second half.

“Just to keep our hands sort of thing really.  Last few games we’ve come in, in the same position and ended up winning, so I didn’t have really too many concerns.

“I just said we need to move it quicker, move it better and when we get into wide areas, put the ball in the box.”

Edge added: “We were really happy with how it was going. They had a lot of possession but they didn’t really do too much with it.  All of their threats were from set-pieces pretty much, so we were quite happy. Then all off a sudden you go down to 10 men and it’s a totally different game.”

Referee Joshua Langley-Feining pulled out a yellow card and then a red-card as Folkestone Invicta were reduced to 10 men with 10:05 on the clock.

Ryan-Kayne collected a needless booking in the 35^th minute for timewasting as he was about to take a throw in within his defensive third – and was sent-off for bringing down Margate right-back Harrison Hatfull, who impressed during the second half in attack.

Edge claimed there was an incident involving Olutade seconds before Hatfull was fouled by Ryan-Kayne.

Edge said: “I don’t want to say too much because it looked like there’s been a coming together with Ibs (Olutade) and one of their players and there was a bit of a kick out from one of the Margate players and then it spills out, goes down the line and Ryan makes a rash challenge. 

“That is a sending off, it’s a second yellow, it’s a sending off.  I’ve got no arguments with that, but I think there was a little bit of something before it, so it possibly shouldn’t have even got there.”

Prestedge was also asked about the red-card offence.

He said: “It’s definitely a second yellow and that’s obviously how the ref looked at it.   Harrison’s gone on the right-hand side and he’s away and he’s brought him down. I think it’s an easy one.”

Edge and Micheal Everitt decided to hook striker David Smith and bring on 18-year-old Will Dempsey to play at left-back beside centre-half Callum Davies.

“Well, it was tactical. I think everyone in the whole building would’ve done it,” said Edge.

“Will’s been training with us hard, he’s shown he’s got good ability and he’s gone in there and had a real good trying to shore us up.”

This gave Margate the licence to roam forward down this side of the pitch with Hatfull and 59^th minute substitute Vasiliou often linking up well.

Margate went close to grabbing an equaliser in the 20^th minute of the half when diminutive Vasiliou released Hatfull on an overlapping run down the right and his initial cross was hooked clear by Davies.

Hatfull pounced on the ball and cut inside before curling his left-footed shot around the far post from 22-yards.

“Harrison is always an outlet.  He gets on really well and puts in some good crosses and that’s what we work on.  Vas came off the line and leaving that space for Harrison,” added Prestedge.
 
Folkestone Invicta were to be denied a match clinching second goal just before the halfway point.

Central midfielder Adeyinka Cole went past Hatfull and holding midfielder Daniel Duncanson before Head’s back-heal played in Olutade through on goal but Margate keeper Seaden spread himself to make a vital block.

“A very good save because it had a slight deflection that took the power out of it. The keeper’s got down low and got a hand to it. It was a good save. I think the keeper’s done well there,” added Edge, when asked about the two saves from the Margate goalkeeper in the second half.

Edge added: “I felt we broke better with 10 (men). Ade (Cole) drove into good spaces, Ibs got in there.  Ibs was fantastic but there was times when you run the quality out of your legs and I would say that’s what happened to Ibs today.”

Prestedge added: “He’s a presence back there and someone that we needed and he’s done that a couple of times for us.”

Davies was penalised for a foul on Hatfull and Greenhalgh produced another quality delivery with his left-foot in a central position from 30-yards out which bounced on the six-yard line and all Cawley could do was poke his shot straight at the keeper from within a crowd of players.

However, Margate deserved their equaliser when it arrived with 28 minutes and 23 seconds on the clock.

Greenhalgh played a short pass to Vasiliou on the outside and the Greek ran down the line before drilling in a cross from the right towards the back post which Cawley headed down and Strizovic swiftly got down low to his right and used a strong right hand to keep out. However, Cawley had a second bite of the cherry and poked his shot into the bottom left-hand corner from close range.

“Vas is a player that we really like,” said Prestedge.

“He’s small but he gets himself about and he has great touches and finds himself in good areas and he came on, assisted and scored and that’s what you want from your subs.”

Edge added: “They followed it in, extra man, it’s going to happen. There’s got to be an overload somewhere.  I did think Josh made an excellent save but there wasn’t a lot of pace on the ball, so he couldn’t push it wide. All he could do is get down and really get a hand to it and they followed it in, like every manager in the country wants someone to follow in the first shot. It fell to him and he poked it home.”

When asked about the performance from the 23-year-old loanee, Edge replied: “I thought Joshua was very, very good.  I like the way he commanded the area. I thought he kicked really well, claimed it well.  I think the only disappointment being is he deserved to win the game. I thought he was solid.”

Margate increased their desire levels but Folkestone Invicta were still a threat on the counter-attack and Cole’s pass was driven towards goal by Olutade, whose right-footed angled drive was comfortably held by Seaden, low to his left, with eight minutes remaining.

Folkestone Invicta holding midfielder Drury (and former Margate manager) hooked a ball into the penalty area from the right for the impressive Olutade, who rose and guided his downward header into the keeper’s hands.

Margate kept plugging away and Greenhalgh faced a four-man wall for his left-footed free-kick from 28-yards, which was comfortably held by Strizovic, smothering the ball into his gloves, low to his left.

With Margate knocking on the door for an equaliser, Folkestone had other ideas and grabbed the lead – against-the-run-of-play – with 40:51 on the clock.

Cole rolled a 20-yard pass into Jackson, who turned Margate left-back Archie Johnson, before emphatically drilling a sublime right-footed drive into the top right-hand corner from a central position, 25-yards out.

Edge said: “It’s a strike that deserves to win a game! That was whack – you’re not getting anywhere near that!

“I will say you ask for your subs to make an impact. It’s normally 11-against-11, go and make something happen. 

“That is a world class finish.  You could have four keepers, they’re not saving that!  That’s a shame. It should’ve won the game – but it didn’t.”

Prestedge added: “To be honest, there’s not really much you can do about that! It’s a great strike.

“It’s just a little bit frustrating that we allowed him to get into that position.

“I thought just keep going, just keep plugging, that’s all you can sort of do. We did throw the kitchen sink at it and fortunately enough we could’ve nicked it at the end.”

The board with a green number seven was held aloft within the Margate technical area and the home side dominated stoppage time.

Hatfull and Vasiliou linked up down the right again and the ball was worked over to a deep Cawley, who unleashed a left-footed drive from 25-yards, which was tipped over the bar by the visiting goalkeeper with 47:59 on the clock.

Folkestone Invicta then somehow survived a desperate goal-line scramble but their luck ran out when Margate forced the ball over the line to equalise following a second scramble with 48:45 on the clock – the final whistle was blown at 52:07.

Hatfull recycled the ball back into the danger area and Vasilou forced the ball over the line (into the bottom right-hand corner) at the second attempt.

Prestedge said: “It was a bit of a ping-ball in there for a good five minutes. Look, we’ll take it because it’s a scrambled goal but it shows the character of the team to be able to keep going. Seven minutes of added time and to get an equaliser, is fantastic.”

Edge, meanwhile, claimed the goal should not have stood.

“The disappointment of that one is our lads didn’t really kick up a stink or whinge or moan and stuff like that.

“They’re adamant our keeper’s got it in both hands and despite all the pressure that we came under, which we knew we would, there’s an element of cheating that’s actually got it.

“I haven’t seen it yet so I do need to see that. They all say that’s what it was, which is a shame really because Josh had a good game and deserved to have first win.”



Vasiliou squandered a glorious chance to clinch the victory with 50:39 on the clock, however.

Greenhalgh cut the ball back from within the right channel and the unmarked Vasiliou took a touch inside the Folkestone box before placing his right-footed shot past the foot of the left-hand post from 15-yards.

“There were a couple of chances towards the end that we probably should’ve finished it off,” admitted Prestedge.

“I think Vas, he’s had the last chance at the end. He brought it down and sort of rushed his shot and I’ll be honest, if he shanks that, it probably goes in.”

Edge added: “I think he’ll be a little bit disappointed with that because he’s got himself into a brilliant position for the pull back and slightly dragged it wide but the beauty of The FA Cup and it lives on.  

“We’ve managed to ride a 10-v-11 game. We’ve just got to put our minds right for 11-v-11 on Tuesday and try to go one better.”

Folkestone Invicta won the League game 2-0 when the two sides met each other at Cheriton Road on Monday 28 August and both camps are looking forward to Tuesday night’s meeting.

“What am I expecting? Same kind of performance,” said Edge.

“I’m ultra proud of my lads today, they really dug deep. They showed the club, showed us, fans, what The FA Cup means to them.  I think they really dug deep today.

“The funny thing about The FA Cup is it’s so special, you hope to get to a level where a team absolutely destroys you, it’s quite weird.  You think ‘oh brilliant, first round proper, we’re playing so and so, Wrexham, brilliant. (lose) 7-0, yes, what a wonderful day.’

“It has magic and I will say the way The FA have structured the money for the non-league sides is brilliant.  They’re actually looking after the smaller ones so they can have a chance.

“I think it’s great. I’ve always loved The FA Cup, obviously never got to the Final, which would’ve been lovely but it’s great for everyone.”

Edge was part of Peter Taylor's Gillingham's starting line-up when they lost 5-0 at Premier League side Chelsea in The FA Cup Quarter-Finals back in February 2000, playing alongside the likes of Nicky Southall, Barry Ashby and Andy Hessenthaler.

Both Margate and Folkestone Invicta banked £2,250 by winning in the last round, with the winners on Tuesday scooping a further £3,375 in prize money, with the losing club banking a further £1,125.

The Third Qualifying Round Draw takes place on Monday lunchtime with the ties taking place on Saturday 30 September, with a further £5,625 going to the winner and a further £1,875 to the losing club.

Three wins will get one of these clubs into that First Round and a potential clash against a League One or League Two outfit.

Prestedge added: “Pretty much the same, same sort of game, fast and furious. We know their threats and stuff like that, so we’ve got to go there full of belief that we can get the result we need.

“The FA Cup is massive, not just the financial side but for a bit of recognition for the players and youngsters – it’s a shop window.  You want to get through these sort of rounds because the league’s above start coming in.”

Both Prestedge and Edge were asked about the prospect of extra-time and penalties on Tuesday night, with both sides not reporting any knocks from today’s game.

Margate haven’t reached The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round since 2019, while Folkestone Invicta have reached the Fourth and final Qualifying Round for the past two seasons, losing 3-2 after extra time at home to full-time National League side Eastleigh in a replay, before losing 2-1 in Wales against Merthyr Town last season.

Prestedge said: “A lot of the boys want to practice penalties but I’m not really a fan of it. I don’t see the difference in taking a pen on a training day to you’re going to go into a game day. It’s completely different. It’s a completely different atmosphere. You might choose left, that way, right, the other way. The keeper might know. Theres too many variables with it, so if it goes that far, hopefully it doesn’t, I’m sure there will be enough boys to step up.”

Edge added: “It could be. Let’s hope it’s not for the boys.  I don’t really like penalties. I prefer it to be dealt with in extra-time.  If it goes to that sort of level, but that’s what it is, they are the rules.

“We’ve got to dust ourselves off and get ourselves mentally and physically prepared for Tuesday.”

Margate: Harry Seaden, Harrison Hatfull, Archie Johnson, Daniel Duncanson, Tyrone Sterling, Harry Hudson, Fyn Rutherford (Antonis Vasililou 59), Sam Blackman, Steve Cawley, Ben Greenhalgh, Phil Roberts (Muhammed Cham 90).
Subs: Reece Hobbs, Vinnie Bowman, Skye Salmon, Rory Sutcliffe, Leo Mazzone

Goals: Steve Cawley 74, Antonis Vasiliou 90

Booked: Harrison Hatfull 36, Ben Greenhalgh 45, Phil Roberts 45

Folkestone Invicta: Joshua Strizovic, Kane Penn, Makhosini Ryan- Khanye, Andy Drury, Callum Davies, Will Moses, Ibrahim Olutade, Adeyinka Cole, David Smith (Will Dempsey 57), Scott Heard, Jordan Ababio (Ira Jackson 76).
Subs: Ian Gayle, Andre Coker, Luke Watkins, Micheal Everitt

Goals: Ibrahim Olutade 3, Ira Jackson 86

Booked: David Smith 22, Makhosini Ryan-Khanye 35, Callum Davies 35

Sent Off:  Makhosini Ryan-Khanye 57

Attendance: 692
Referee: Mr Joshua Langley-Feining
Assistants: Mr Luke Morley & Mr Martyn Milligan