Match Coverage: Hastings vs MFC

[Wellsie]

Will be available on www.margate-fc.com via the Twitter feed on the Home page with the Margate line up and latest score from Hastings and all the other Ryman League Premier Division games here.

[SteveB]

Line-up now on the official site.

[Dealstokie]

Good draw in the end, we were poor - very poor for 65 minutes, substitues and a slightly iffy penalty later we looked unstoppable !

[michael]

Mildly disappointing for many perhaps,but a good reality check by the sounds of it.

 

I'll never complain about a draw away from home-and to 'come back' from 2 down can't be bad.

 

Is it because we are fitter than most ?

THe clean sheets 'run' did'nt last too long then !!

 

Next two games will give a proper idea of 'where we are at.

Does hampton winning 3-0 at hendon tonight tell us anything?

 

Now another draw at kingstonian on saturday would be very acceptable in my eyes

 

Up the 'Gate

[blue balls]

A very fortunate point. Sloppy passing, poor marking and very poor decision making at times. Defence that looked so solid on Saturday seemed disorganised and panicked every time they got in and around our box. Silly mistakes reminiscent of last season failing to clear our lines and giving possession away far too easily.They used the whole of the big wide pitch and we gave them far too much space on the flanks and in midfield - too slow to close them down. Don't know why we played so narrow with the quality wide players we have. The substitutions changed the game for us - Stubbs drove forward with purpose and scored a snorter of a penalty 10 mins from the end and Rook got another goal and his strength and presence are a real asset to us and finally gave their centre backs something to worry about. Could have even nicked it but for a great save from their keeper. If only we had played like that for the other 80 minutes!!

[Coffin Ender]

Give some credit to Hastings, they worked very hard and played at their absolute maximum for large parts of this game. They will be gutted they didn't win this. In the end, though, all that hard work caught up with them and having quality on the bench is priceless at this level.

Like most who were there tonight I was wondering why Rook wasn't on much earlier. Whitnell was getting no joy from Hastings' two big centre-halves in the first half. Hastings were closing us down well, forcing us into long balls to the forwards, which were dealt with easily. Their second goal was a beauty.

[Dutch_Mike]

Although I wasn't able to make the game, I think it's a decent point, in truth. Away from home on a Tuesday night, and Hastings are clearly no mugs; despite many of us - myself included - predicting them to struggle this season, they only lost by the odd-goal away at Hampton on Saturday, who are quite fancied this year. People's expectations early on in the season are often unrealistic - especially after an opening day win - but you're never going to win every game.

 

So to take a point from a game in which - by the sounds of it - we were far from our best, is satisfactory. Roll on Kingstonian

[michael]

Thanks for 'fans eye' reports.

Interesting that CK refers to hastings having the extra man in midfield to start with.

 

For me-you just can't afford to have two wide men playing-unless you have 5 in misfield and one striker.

Avery and corneille did great saturday as a two man central midfield-but most games you need 3 in central midfield to get and keep possesion.

 

For me-midfield should be Long,cornelle,avery ,stubbs.

long gives you that bit of class and flair-the other 3 can battle away and get the ball in the middle of the park,with stubbs out slightly wider

[Jab_n17]

how many times teams have played poor in all leagues and 'come away' with points....truth is the odd point picked up here and there could be a major factor at the end of the season. Margate dead and buried at 2-0 down and 10 mins on the clock and getting a draw...i'll take that!!!!!!!