Gate leave it late as they down Wingate

Margate recorded a second home win in a week to end a turbulent few days which had seen a 3-0 defeat away at Lowestoft just days before joint manager Craig Holloway stepped down from his role.

The 'Gate' knew they needed to start quickly against Wingate & Finchley who found themselves below the Blues in the Ryman Premier League table before kick-off.

The game started quickly, however for the home side it was a disastrous opening minute as the visitors fired in a long range effort which was carelessly spilled into the net by Holloway who remains Margate number one despite stepping down as joint manager.

The home side looked more threatening than there last fixture and they found themselves level in the tenth minute as Matt Bodkin calmly slotted home from 12 yards after Charles Ademano was chopped down in the box. With Simon Osborn seemingly taking full control of first team affairs, the Blues looked lively going forward.

Ademano caused Wingate problems with his direct running at the defence, while Matt Bodkin playing in a more attacking role also looked to add to his tally. Phil Walsh who has struggled to score goals of late was also a handful as he won header after header to cause the visitors back line even more trouble.

It was the work of Walsh which assisted as Margate took the lead just five minutes before the break. A fine corner was swung in with Walsh rising highest, only to see his header crash back off the post but only to the feet of Gary Borrowdale who calmly prodded the ball home to make it 2-1.

The Gate would have hoped to hold onto their lead until half-time, however the visitors had other ideas as Bobby Aisen fired home from 12 yards after Leon Smith had been hacked down after a mazy run into the home sides box.

The second half didn't live up to the first as both sides failed to carve out any open opportunities. It was the home side who created the best of the opportunities as Walsh and Bodkin came closest.

Osborn wasn't to go without a win in his first game in charge as the Gate struck the winner in the 84th minute with the goal coming from an unlikely source.

It was Richard Avery who was released down the centre before seeing his fierce effort parried, but only back to his feet as he slammed home the winner to send home support into a frenzy as they celebrated a second straight home win.

The win saw Margate move up to 9th in the table and just eight points behind the Ryman Premier League play-off places.

After the game new manager Simon Osborn admitted the play-offs were his aim: "We have to aspire to be the best we can. We targeted the play-offs at the start of the season and that's where we want to be at the end of the season."

Speaking about a turbulent few days at the club Osborn said: "I don't think Craig's decision had an effect. It was something Craig had been mulling over for a few weeks. Craig's time as a manager will come but for now he has some other plans and management obviously takes up a lot of your time."

"Craig is still young, he is still by no doubt the best keeper in this league."

Ryan Dolby was also pleased with a second home win within a week: "It was a good three points. We played well in spells but we grinded out the win and that's fantastic for the football Club."

"Craig's departure as joint manager didn't effect us. He is still a big character within the dressing room, it just means Simon might have to plan a bit more on his own but it wont effect us."

Margate welcome Canvey Island to Hartsdown Park on Saturday as they look for their third consecutive home win.

'Gate' earn points as Robins remain rooted

Margate FC recorded their first win in the Ryman Premier League since the beginning of September as they beat basement side Carshalton Athletic at Hartsdown Park in front of a crowd of just 82.

With England facing Germany at Wembley and the blustery winds making it feel like temperatures had plummeted to sub zero, the home side knew there was never going to be a high number through the turnstiles, however the figure would have no doubted disappointed.

The 'Gate' did very little in the first half to repay those fans that had stuck by the side that hadn't won in the League since recording a 1-0 away win at play-off chasing Wealdstone on the 5th September. The visitors showed their game plan from the beginning as they got men behind the ball and attacked when they could.

It was the visitors that shaved the better of very few chances in the first half, however 'Gate' player/manager Craig Holloway wasn't to be beaten as he pulled off two sublime saves in the opening 30 minutes to keep the scores level at 0-0.

While Holloway remained resolute in goal, the home side looked very lacklustre in any attacking moves and probably had their number one to thank for going in level at half-time.

Whatever Holloway and Simon Osborne said at half-time certainly worked as Margate came out having stepped up their work rate and creativity. The obvious improvement came via the Kent sides two Greek midfielders Jack Summoutis and Giannoulis Fakinos who's constant searching passes and vision were key to some much better play by the home side.

It looked though as the minutes ticked by that the home support would be going home frustrated as Phil Walsh who's work rate couldn't be questioned continued to be frustrated up front on his own as the 'Gate' went in search of the three points.

However, with 71 minutes on the clock the home sides pressure finally told as Fakinos delivered a fine angled ball to the fast post where the towering Walsh cushioned the ball to the feet of Defender Gary Borrowdale who couldn't miss from just four yards.

Despite the Leagues basement side threatening with a few half chances, Margate comfortably saw out the final 19 minutes with relative ease as the Carshalton drought in front of goal continued with still just 14 League goals scored so far this season.

After the game Margate joint manager Holloway said he was pleased to earn the much needed three points.

"It's been a difficult few weeks with results, we gave the lads a kick up the backside at half time and the work rate improved in the second half."

We looked lacklustre in the first half but obviously what we said at half-time gave the boys a lift and our second half was a lot better" added the 29 year old.

Holloway was named man of the match after keeping his side in the game in the first half, however the gaffer thinks there might have been something else to it.

"I think I have done quite well this season in goal, but my friend Paul was sponsoring the game so he might have been being a bit bias with that decision."

The boss was also happy to see Borrowdale on the scoresheet, despite being a defender.

"Ideally you want all your players getting on the scoresheet to take that pressure off your strikers but credit to Phil Walsh he has been our best player over the last few weeks.

"He is winning plenty of balls in the air and bringing other players into the game so a lot of credit must go to him."

With the attendance at just 82, Holloway urged the Margate supporters to come out in their numbers to help the Club achieve their promotion ambitions.

"It's always a quiet game when England play but we need them to get behind us to help us get to where we think we can get this club, but I am sure that will come if we keep winning games."

Margate climbed to 10th in the Ryman Premier League and travel to seventh placed Lowestoft on Saturday.

Non-league hotshot could steal the January headlines

With the transfer window in full swing, this week saw the return of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to the Emirates Stadium from the U.S while Robbie Keane also joined Villa on a similar deal from LA Galaxy; however, there is one Non-League striker on the South coast that could yet steal the headlines of this transfer window.

Margate FC striker Kwesi Appiah has found the net 33 times already this season and a move away from the Kent club is highly expected before the window slams shut on the 31^st January but where will the hotshot go to and how much can Margate expect for such a player? In truth Appiah could be a Premier League player by the 1^st of February 2012, however, many people think his likely destination could be the Championship.

The latest clubs to be linked to the striker include Premier League sides Aston Villa, QPR and Swansea while a whole host of Championship clubs ranging from Watford, Bristol City and Leeds are all expected to keep a close eye on Appiah. With no game this week for the 33 goal hero to showcase his talents even more so, Margate will hope to earn some breathing space this week meaning that Appiah could feature against Lewes on the 21^st of January and three days later when Margate entertain League One side Charlton Athletic in the Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final clash at Hartsdown Park.

Fans of Margate will be hoping that their main man will stay beyond this transfer window and help fire the ‘Gate’ into the Play-off places and beyond into the Blue Square Bet Conference South. Despite them hopes there would be no fan at MFC that would begrudge Appiah the chance to resurrect his League career after his last chance at Championship side Peterborough was ended when he was released before returning to the Non-league stage.

So finally what can Margate earn from the possible sale of the star man? Realistically the answer is a lot. Margate would be well within their rights to demand an upwards fee of £50,000 (perhaps higher) as well as a sell on clause of up to 10% while also earning a lucrative friendly against the side that Appiah could join.

All at Margate FC hope Appiah will lead the club to promotion ahead of what looks like to be an exciting new era for the club, however, I would like to offer my thanks to Kwesi for his contribution to the ‘Gate’ should he decide that his future lies elsewhere.

What do you think? Would Appiah suit your club? How much is a 33 goal machine worth in January? As always let me know. 

D-Day again for Margate FC

It’s been one of the longest saga’s running but this week Margate Football Club will seek to move one step closer to beginning work on their new community stadium. Nearly ten years have passed since the club began the process to redevelop their Hartsdown Park home, and on Thursday the club will host the council for a site visit as the Councils decision on the leases edge nearer.

Nothing but delay after delay due to many factors has affected the club both on and off the pitch; however, with a competitive squad and decent manager in charge in Chris Kinnear only the stadium seems to be holding the club back. At 2P.M on Thursday 22^nd December 2011, Margate FC will welcome the officials of the Thanet Council to Hartsdown Park and today urged all supporters to attend to show their support for the project.

A decision was due to be heard last week although a change in leadership at the Council meant the decision was delayed….again. The club has been at its lowest point ever in recent years as the stadium saga threatened to bring the club to its knees, however thanks to directors, players, management and most of all supporters that refused this situation to kill the club that they love, Margate FC are stood on the brink of what could be the biggest boost possible.

Not only the football club need this, anyone that has been to Margate in recent years will agree that empty shops, graffiti covered walls and shops, no theme park and a dying town is in a much needed boost and this decision could be the best thing to happen to the town in a long time.

I am in no doubt that the people of Margate want this and fans of other clubs that have enjoyed a ‘jolly outing’ to Margate to watch football want the stadium to be sorted and built. Many Christmases have passed with no stadium being built, yet this week fans of Margate FC could receive one of the best Christmas presents that they could have hoped for.

I urge anyone that supports/cares about Margate as a football club and as a town attend the visit this Thursday to show their support to this much needed project.