Southall pleased with Margate's response

Sunday 04th October 2009

MARGATE caretaker manager Neville Southall was pleased with his side’s performance against Kingstonian, which ended in a morale-boosting 2-1 home win.

Southall, who was Terry Yorath’s assistant, made five changes as Luke Kiteley (released), Louis Smith (suspension), John Keister (suspension), Steve West (released) and Sam Cliff and in came Lloyd Anderson, George Jeremy, Liam Harwood, Jeremy Boureau and Akwasi Edusei.

Jeremy’s international clearance came through on Friday and Charlie McCarthy - an unused substitute - was registered with the first team, also on the eve of the game, after impressing for the reserves.

The three at the back, including Harwood looked solid and with pace in the wide positions and up front following the introduction of Jeremy, Boureau and Edusei, Margate looked both more comfortable defensively and dangerous going forward.

And yesterday’s victory, Margate have climbed up to 13th place in the Ryman Premier League table - just five points behind second placed Wealdstone, which pleased Southall, when speaking to www.margate-fc.com afterwards.

“It was difficult conditions; pitches are bone hard, windy as anything - a typical Margate day - but the lads did really, really well to be fair to them, all credit to them.

“We tried to change a few things; bring a few new faces in, put a bit of pace in, we caused them problems. I think we were worthy winners in the end.

“The seeds for this win were set last week against Hornchurch when the focus was on fitting players into the side and into the chosen formation that matched their natural game. And while last week’s game failed to produce any goals, this week things started to come together. “

The addition of pace going forward proved to be crucial against the Ks and is something that the former Everton goalkeeping legend is pleased to now have at his disposal.

He said: “You can’t put pace in people. But what we have done is try to add a little bit of pace, and it does make a difference, it puts defenders under pressure.”

And perhaps an indication of things to come under the former Everton keeper’s stewardship, he added: “What we tried to do today: we knew we had to score at least one, so we may as well try to attack as much as we possibly can and try to get a goal. Luckily enough, we got two.”

Defensively as well, there were positives. “Our goalie’s not had a save to make apart from one fantastic save to be fair, when it go deflected. I don’t thing he took a cross all day.”

“I think overall, if I was a neutral, I would have enjoyed the game,” he added.

Skipper Lloyd Blackman agreed that the blustery conditions made it hard word. His assessment of the game was: “Three points – a valuable three points. Not a bad performance could have played better but, we’ve played a lot worse.”

On the number of changes in the side, the skipper says: “It’s never easy when players’ roles change. Like myself for example, I was more of a target man today, where as Westy has been the target man and I had to play off (him).

“But it’s credit to the lads that other lads come in and played exceptionally well, but the players that have played with us all season have adapted to the new guys coming in and got straight into it and produced three points.”

Article courtesy of www.margate-fc.com