Wealdstone 1-0 Margate - We look to win our last three games to stay up - O'Connell

Wealdstone skipper Lee Chappell scored his fourth goal of the season, a result that ended Margate’s nine-game unbeaten run and leaves them just three points clear of the relegation zone with only three games left to play.

Turner had already made two fine first half saves, but he left the home faithful in stitches as he allowed Chappell’s right-footed ambitious drive from 30-yards slip through his fingers to leave his side in a precarious position.

O’Connell emerged from the away dressing room but refused to blame the former Maidstone United keeper for the defeat, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“Jamie’s made a mistake but you look at all the great saves he’s made over the last sort of eleven games, you can’t blame him.”

“He’s made a mistake and unfortunately when a keeper makes a mistake there’s a goal.

“But, as I say, he’s been brilliant so we’re due one.”

In what was a high-tempo game throughout on a grassy pitch at Grosvenor Vale, Margate enjoyed good possession of the ball during the first 20 minutes - without troubling Sam Beagle in the Wealdstone goal - before the home side fought back.

Midfielder Nick Barnes had a couple of early efforts for Margate, but on each occasion they were off target.

Turner made his first good save halfway through the first half, as Wealdstone put a resilient Margate on the back foot.

There was a mix-up between Margate pair Sam Jones and Leroy Huggins and Wealdstone released speedy winger Danny Spendlove and his cut back was driven towards goal by Callum Martin, but Turner got his giant frame down low to make a smart block.

Wealdstone central defender, Darren Locke, meanwhile, should have done better when he found space at the near post, only to glance Spendlove’s left-wing corner over the crossbar.

But Margate almost grabbed the lead, courtesy of former VCD Athletic striker Huggins.

The much-travelled Huggins latched onto Dan Stubbs' ball over the top and got ahead of his marker Locke but his hooked lob sailed over the keeper and dropped down agonisingly wide of the left-post.

Turner made his second save of the night before half-time when Charlie Mpi’s header released his strike partner Martin but his angled drive was beaten away by Turner and Tommy Osborne was on hand to clear the ball away.

The second half, however, was a tighter affair, and Wealdstone’s two men up front combined again but Martin’s angled drive sailed over the crossbar and into the football pitches behind the ground.

But the game will be best remembered for Turner’s costly 63rd minute mistake.

Adam Logie spread the ball out wide to left-sided midfielder Chappell, who had time and space to drill an ambitious effort towards goal, which should have been comfortably gathered by Turner, but it wasn’t.

“No hands, the keeper’s got no hands,” bellowed a voice from the covered terracing behind Turner, the lonely goalkeeper standing on the edge of his penalty area with his hands on his hips.

Margate’s first shot on target finally arrived in the final thirteen minutes.

A triangle of slick passes involving Jones, James Pinnock and Aaron Lacy saw the latter float an excellent cross towards the far post, where Jay Saunders was lurking and his header from close in produced a fine block from Beagle.

Margate almost grabbed a last-gasp equaliser, but Wealdstone threw legs in the way as the ball pin-balled in and around the home side’s penalty area.

But a disappointed O’Connell knows his side must take maximum points from Aveley, Tooting & Mitcham United and Hastings United to maintain their current status.

“I think we did well, the boys are pretty upset,” he said.

“We defended well tonight, that was only their shot in the second half so we’re obviously gutted.  We had a few efforts cleared.”

With Waltham Abbey snatching a shock 1-0 home win over second-placed Kingstonian tonight (although they remain bottom), there are only four points separating the bottom five clubs.

Margate have collected 42 points but they have played the most games of all the sides below them in the table, so they will be anxiously looking at midweek results as Carshalton Athletic, Maidstone United, Bognor Regis Town and Waltham Abbey all have three games in hand.

“When you go nine unbeaten you think you would be (a lot safer), but unfortunately we were deep in the mire anyway so we’ve still got three games to go and although it was disappointing to lose, we’ve got three games to go and I look to win all three of those games.”

The Essex based manager admitted it was hard going having played Bognor Regis Town, Tonbridge Angels and Wealdstone in the past five days.

“They’ve played Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, that’s how well these fixtures have been organised,” he bemoaned.

“I know a lot of teams are going to have to do that, but we’ve got two free weeks when we don’t play at all!

“We play on a Saturday and a Saturday, there’s no game midweek.  I just wonder why you can’t fit in a game between them.

“I think it’s to do with this stupid 42-day rule, when you have to play a game within 42-days.  It’s absolutely pathetic! But there you go!”

Reflecting on the game itself, O’Connell added: “We were maybe a little bit tired, but again, second half, they had one shot really.  Their keeper made a great save at the end and another good save right at the end.  I thought we equalised at the end,  but there you go.

“They probably had the better of the first half and I think we were the better team second half.  But there you go, we’ve lost the game.

O’Connell confirmed that Grant Cooper has twisted his ankle, but he was more than impressed with his replacement, Sam Groombridge, who slotted in a three-man defence alongside Tommy Osborne and Dan Young.

“Coops has twisted his ankle. I think he’ll be alright for Saturday, but Sammy done well tonight,” said O’Connell.

He added: “Tommy Osborne was our best player again.  I thought he was excellent!”