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| MARGATE 2-0 Leigh RMI Saturday 8th February, Nationwide Conference, Crabble, 3pm Att: 535 Margate: Smith, Oates, Clarke, Edwards, Sodje, Leberl, Saunders*, Keister, Beard, Collins* (Sigere), Braithwaite. Leigh: Coburn, Fitzhenry, Williams (Kielty), Durkin, Lancaster, Harrison (Maden), Salt, Courtney (Whitehead), Heald, Monk, Maamria. A Phil COLLINS goal with only five minutes on the clock started the ball rolling for Gate who always looked comfortable in this six-pointer. They dominated much of the game except for a fifteen minute spell midway through the first half. Collins took his chance well after the ball landed at his feet. The striker turned and planted the ball in the left-hand corner of the net. A further goal from Jay SAUNDERS put the gloss on a fine afternoon's work on sixty-three minutes. His snap-shot from just inside the penalty area suprised Leigh keeper Stuart Coburn, whose touch on the ball wasn't enough to stop it from going over the line to double the home side's advantage. Margate really should have had more than two goals during the game. An Adrian Clarke cross from the left in the latter stages of the first half was flicked on superbly by John Keister at the near post, but he found Coburn able to deal with the ball comfortably. Phil Collins saw a header flash wide in the closing minutes of the first period after a Simon Beard shot was touched wide for a corner. Midway through the second half Beard was in the thick of the action again. A real goalscoring opportunity was wasted as Keister miskicked and then Beard put the ball just wide from six yards in a goalmouth scramble when it seemed easier to score. A game where the three points were well earned and now the Gate sit in fifteenth place in the Conference, seven points above the drop zone with a home game against Hereford United to come on Tuesday. Players who deserve to be singled out for praise are Phil Collins, who's effort, determination and commitment was outstanding, and he took his goal well. Also, Oates was very impressive with his probing runs down the wing a constant threat. The whole team played well and if we continue to play in this manner then there is no need to look over our shoulder; just forwards to a bright future. |
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| MARGATE V Hereford United Tuesday 11th February, Nationwide Conference, Crabble, 7:45pm Margate: Hereford: Report to come. |
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