Tooting vs MFC .......

[Wellsie]

.... all updates on www.margate-fc.com now complete including full match report.

[Coffin Ender]

And here is Tooting's report...

 

Billy Smith received the Ryman award for Augusts performance of the month (for that memorable Sutton match) before kick off. This time the curse of the pre-match presentation was not to visit Imperial Fields as the Terrors shaded what was surely the most entertaining and evenly contested game we've seen this season.

 

Ex 'gate man Romauld Bouadji opened the scoring early with one of his trademark headers from a third minute corner. John Henry-Hayden kept popping up across the width of the pitch constantly hustling the visitors, notably in the 11th minute when he won the ball on half way, weaved his way down the left flank, eluding three opponents, only to have his final pass intercepted as he cut into the area. A Grant effort shortly after ended with a weak shot, easily gathered by Chalmers-Stevens.

 

Margate, splendidly backed by an impressive midweek away army of supporters, were playing their full part in proceedings and a quarter of an hour in some agricultural Tooting defending presented them with a free kick just outside the D. Ryan Peters, one of the few survivors from last seasons side, stepped up to coolly curl the ball into the top corner with the returning King hopelessly beaten.

 

Terrors fought back with a couple of half chances for Grant, but it was 'gate who started looking the more dangerous, going close with a glancing header from a left sided cross and forcing Dave King to prove that he is still the boss when it comes to aerial goalmouth tennis. Louis Smith declined the offer of the infamous Tooting stretcher as Lance and co converged to scoop him from the turf (sensible guy), having conceded a free kick 20 yards out which Bouadji popped just over the top.

 

Four minutes before the break the visitors almost took the lead as King rushed out to deal with a threat down the right flank. Fortunately goal line cover arrived and scrambled the goal bound shot past the post for a corner. The resultant counter attack saw a long cross from the right find Jamie Byatt outside the box on the left. Jamies' full volley curled past the outstreched keepers arms and settled in the back of the net for a serious goal of the season conteneded.

 

Half Time 2 - 1

 

Both sides continued where they had left off. Grant again demonstrated how quickly his game is maturing with some mazy dribbling and Muguo started to show why Billy was so keen to capture his signature. Margate came close from a free kick on the quarter hour, but the later it got the more their inexperience started to show. As the visitors tried to press for an equaliser substitute Quain cynically uprooted Hamlin as he broke on the counter attack. The introduction of Paul Vines to replace an exhausted JHH offered a reminder that throwing caution to the wind was a dangerous strategy.

 

Just before the half hour King produced his save of the match from a Margate breakaway, but it was Tooting who had the better chances in the closing period. Byatt had an effort tipped over, a Hamlin/Byatt/Vines combination was cleared for a corner and Grant released Vines into the box, only to be crowded out in a forest of defensive legs. Margate did get the ball in the Tooting net at the death, but play had stopped some while before and the effort was not contested by the home defence. Parkinson vented his frustration and was shown red for his trouble..

 

A wonderful evenings entertainment from two well matched sides. It can only be a matter of time before the youngsters from Thanet start to clock up some points - of the league variety.

 

 

[BlueGate Alan]

Thanks CE, good to see the last line in it I must say.

[Cookie]

Yes Alan,it should be an encouragement to both players & supporters alike.

I think he's got it right too,the points WILL come if the lads continue to both improve & work hard,as they are doing.

They just need a lesson in how to concentrate for 90 minutes now & have that slice of luck that has eluded them so far.