Match report: Walton & Hersham 3, MARGATE 2

[Guest]

The fact that Margate went down to 10 men in the second half and that there were some dubious refereeing decisions, could not hide the fact that this was a disappointing performance against a side two divisions below the Blues. Given that the first half was the most disappointing, Gate had at least fought well to get themselves back in the game at 2-2. But then a third goal following a quick break from the home side with just three minutes to go proved too much in spite of Gate’s late onslaught.

 

The opening period of the game was short on quality although after three minutes a long ball from the Walton midfield dropped onto the edge of Margate’s six-yard box and Reggie Savage sent his volley into the side netting.

 

Two minutes later, Margate won a free kick around 20 yards from goal but Peter Benevides put his effort direct from the kick over the Walton bar.

 

The Swans responded when Neil Lampton popped a dangerous looking ball into the Margate area requiring first a defensive header but then the close attention of Peter Trego who needed to tip the ball over the bar to be sure.

 

On 17 minutes, some nice work through the midfield involving Tristan Fontin gave Walton & Hersham a good opportunity but the final ball in the Margate area was not good and a goal kick was the result.

 

A minute later Rocky Baptiste and Benevides combined well on the right but the resulting cross was too close to Grindre and he collected safely.

 

As the 20 minute mark approached, a lovely cross from the left to the far edge of Margate’s six-yard box fell to the unmarked Neil Lampton who powered his header into the top left corner of the goal to give the home side a deserved lead. Shortly after, Walton had an opportunity to double their lead when Lampton played a nice ball into Sam Keevil just inside the area but his effort went start to Trego.

 

On 29 minutes Charalmbous and Clarke initially combined well to move the ball into midfield. Then Keister picked the ball up and following some neat interplay with Stadhart hit a ball into the Walton area for the striker to run on to. Unfortunately, the pass was too strong and the ball drifted out for a goal kick.

 

Three minutes later a Charalambous pass was intercepted in the Walton half. A swift break from Walton included a lovely ball from the left by Savage to the edge of the six-yard box, where Scott Edgar hit his effort on the volley just wide of the upright.

 

But with five minutes to go before the break, Margate were level. Pat Gradley played a great ball to the edge of the Walton six-yard box from where Che Stadhart expertly glanced a header out of Gindre’s reach and into the goal.

 

Seven minutes into the second half, Bill Edwards (restored to the starting line–up after injury) misjudged a clearance in his own area. The ball fell to a Walton forward but his effort was turned away for a corner.

 

On 56 minutes, John Keister’s challenge on a Walton player - in which he seemed to lead in with his arm - was punished with a yellow card from the referee. This was to have significant implications later in the game.

 

Two minutes later, Walton & Hersham went ahead for the second time in the game when an innocuous looking ball into the Margate area from the right fell for Lee Riddell on the edge of the area. He hit a low effort to Trego’s right and into the goal.

 

Then a second incident involving John Keister led to the midfielder’s unlucky dismissal. Keister looked to have accidentally collided with a Walton player who certainly seemed not to see any aggressive intent. But the referee saw it differently and brandished a second yellow card to leave Gate to play the remaining 20 minutes with 10 men.

 

On 64 minutes Mr Salt’s decision-making had an air of inconsistency about it when Reggie Savage went heavily and late into a challenge with Trego while chasing a long ball into the area. He was given a yellow card when surely it should have been red. Perhaps Savage’s own bench saw it that way too, as immediately after the incident he was replaced by Carl Gibbs.

 

With 67 minutes on the clock, Clarke and Benevides combined well on the right. As Benevides took the ball into the Walton area he was bundled over by the defender but the referee waved away appeals for what looked to be a certain penalty. A minute later and again Clarke and Benevides were involved, and this time their efforts won a free kick for handball. Clarke’s superb left footed effort from 22 yards was heading for the top left corner Gindre managed to get his finger tips to the ball and turn it away for a corner to Margate. The resulting corner by Clarke was headed goalwards by Ross Smith leading to a last ditch goal line clearance by the home defence.

 

Five minutes later, there was a scramble in the Margate area but the danger was eventually cleared. A minute later Chris Kinnear opted to replace Alex Charalambous with Darren Watson – a change that was to deliver instant results. In the 74th minute, Watson – with his first touch of the ball - played a long Trego clearance into Stadhart’s path. Stadhart lost his marker, rounded the keeper and slotted home to bring Gate level.

 

With 10 minutes to go, Walton gave a reminder that the game was far from over when Trego was called into action to deny Scott Edgar. And just as 10-man Margate looked to be heading for at least a replay, a long ball forward down the Walton right found it’s way into the middle of the Margate area where Riddlee was on hand to bundle the ball home for his second goal of the game.

 

With the score at 3-2 to the home side, Margate forced the pace in the final five minutes but despite almost laying siege to the Walton Goal could not find a way through. A great ball from Gradley found Baptiste whose header was wonderfully tipped over by Gindre. Then twice in quick succession Baptiste found himself in a good position but was unable to capitalise on the chances from inside the Walton area.

 

Margate: Trego, Charalambous (Watson), Benevides, Smith, Edwards, Annon, Keister, Gradley, Stadhart, Baptiste, Clarke.

Subs: Hussein, Jjunju.

 

Walton & Hersham: Gindre, Dolan, Thurgood, Reive, Frontin, Keevil, Lampton, Riddell, Edgar, Savage (Gibbs), Sobihy.

Subs not used: Lyons, Remnant, Regan, Thompson

[Guest]

Highs and lows:

Top scorer - all games: 9 - Che Stadhart

Top scorer - league: 6 - Rocky Baptiste, Che Stadhart

Top scorer - cup games: 3 - Che Stadhart

 

Highest League position: 12th on 18th August, 21st September

Lowest League position: 19th on 24th August

 

Best Home Result: 3-1 - vs Hayee

Worst Home Result: 0-6 - vs Grays Ath

 

Best Away Result: 4-2 - vs Maidenhead Utd

Worst Away Result: 3-7 - vs Lewes

 

Best Cup Result: 2-0 - vs Welling Utd - NLC R1

Worst Cup Result: 2-3 - vs Walton & Hersham - FAT R1

 

Highest Home attendance: 293 - vs Weymouth

Highest Away attendance: 481 - vs Sutton Utd

Lowest Home attendance: 174 - vs Thurrock

Lowest Away attendance: 186 - vs Redbridge

 

Scorers table:

Che Stadhart: total 9; league 6; cup 3

Rocky Baptiste: total 6; league 6; cup 0

Peter Benevides: total 3; league 3; cup 0

Aaron Barnett: total 2; league 2; cup 0

Adrian Clarke: total 1; league 1; cup 0

Mark Green: total 1; league 1; cup 0

Greg Oates: total 1; league 1; cup 0

Darren Watson: total 1; league 1; cup 0

Moses Jjunju: total 1; league 0; cup 1

John Keister: total 1; league 0; cup 1

Pat Gradley: total 1; league 0; cup 1

 

Appearances:

Darren Annon - LEAGUE: Starts 15; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Rocky Baptiste - LEAGUE: Starts 15; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Aaron Barnett - LEAGUE: Starts 13; Sub 2. CUP: Starts 3; Sub 0.

Dean Beckwith (Li) - LEAGUE: Starts 5; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 0.

Peter Benevides - LEAGUE: Starts 11; Sub 1. CUP: Starts 3; Sub 0.

Daniel Bulley - LEAGUE: Starts 0; Sub 3. CUP: Starts 1; Sub 1.

Alex Charalambous - LEAGUE: Starts 3; Sub 8. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Adrian Clarke - LEAGUE: Starts 14; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Bill Edwards - LEAGUE: Starts 12; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 3; Sub 0.

Pat Gradley - LEAGUE: Starts 11; Sub 2. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Mark Green - LEAGUE: Starts 7; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 0.

Olafur Gottskalksson (T) - LEAGUE: Starts 2; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 0.

Nej Hussain - LEAGUE: Starts 3; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 0.

Moses Jjunju - LEAGUE: Starts 2; Sub 5. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 2.

John Keister - LEAGUE: Starts 14; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Tamba Ngongou - LEAGUE: Starts 0; Sub 1. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 1.

Greg Oates - LEAGUE: Starts 11; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 1; Sub 0.

Ian Pulman (Lo) - LEAGUE: Starts 0; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 0.

Ross Smith - LEAGUE: Starts 2; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 2; Sub 1.

Che Stadhart - LEAGUE: Starts 15; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 3; Sub 0.

Peter Trego - LEAGUE: Starts 6; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 4; Sub 0.

Scott Ward ® - LEAGUE: Starts 4; Sub 0. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 0.

Darren Watson - LEAGUE: Starts 0; Sub 2. CUP: Starts 0; Sub 1.

 

L = on Loan, R = Released, T = Transfer, I = in, o = out

[Guest]

Excellent report for content.

 

Why did we only have 3 subs?

 

Jjunjju, Bulley and Pulmann can't all be injured surely.

[ooh!!bodyform]

and i bet, Steve, that you have a sore finger after that report but thanx anyway, very informative

[Gate4TehWin]

thx for report

[Guest]

Great report.

 

I guess Keister will get 2 match ban as already sent off before this season