Thoughts on todays game v AFCW

[Chris1]

Gate’s best game of the season. Also goal of the season. I was surrounded by Dons fans, whose comments were very instructive.

 

We played much of the game 5-2-1-2, with Yiga supporting the front men and the wingbacks not afraid to come forward. The oppo played quite narrow, with high balls into the box.

 

As usual the opposition had the best of the first 10 minutes, with a lightning reaction save be Behcet to push the ball wide, and another brave dive to claim the ball from a mass of kicking boots. (Dons fans: ‘we shouldn’t have too much trouble rolling this lot over’)

 

Even so in that period Brayley and Hockton looked dangerous a couple of times.

 

Then the wonder goal. Brayley picked up the ball just inside their half on the left, beat player after player as he moved towards the goal line just to the left of the area. Then a perfect pass to the head of Hockton who placed it to the left of the keeper. The ball just stuck to Brayley’s foot. The last player I saw do that was George Best. Brilliant. (Fans: ‘who the hell is that number 9?’)

 

Dons continued to press, but we always looked good going forward with Yiga Brayley and Hockton working well together. (Fans: ‘Wimbledon, you are playing sh1t; we are never going to score’)

 

Wimbledon’s goal was not undeserved. After a good Margate attack they counter-attacked in numbers and we were slow to get back. In the end we just ran out of defenders and their last man knocked it in. (Fans: ‘we knew that was coming’)

 

Second half we opened brightly and a lovely move Yiga to Brayley to Hockton saw us go ahead deservedly. (Fans: ‘it was that bloody number 9 again, what’s he doing at a club like Margate?’)

 

We then started playing very deep, as they changed tactics and went wide. The last quarter of the game saw us defending desperately, with some good blocks (Edwards/Donovan) and a couple of good saves.

 

A ghastly keeping error nearly killed us, with Behcet kicking the ball straight to the nearest forward. Bill brought him down to prevent a certain goal and had to get a red card.

 

From then on the tactics were 8-0-1 and kick it anywhere. Keeper booked for timewasting. Several Dons shots straight at the keeper or narrowly off target. Damoah thrown on for the last minute to try to use up some time. A great relief when the final whistle went. (Fans: ‘you deserved to win. We haven’t faced a better team this season’)

 

Player ratings:

 

Behcet 5. A mixture of heartstopping errors and blinding reaction saves, one of which was to recover an error.

 

Oates (RWB) 5. Was up against their best player, Rob Ursell, who got the better of Greg quite a bit. Played his part in the defending at the end though.

 

Edwards 8. Good defending. Had no choice but to pull the player down for the red card.

 

Trott 8. Excellent headed clearances and defensive tackles. Much less vocal today.

 

Donovan 8. Good solid defending.

 

Standen (LWB) 6. Played well but picked up a knee(?) injury towards the end of the first half, subbed by...

 

Allman 9. Superb at both ends of the pitch. Two cracking shots, one blocked and one flicked wide by Hockton’s heel. We are lucky to have him and Standen both able to fill this position.

 

Gradley 7. Solid when defending, and moved the ball forwards well a couple of times. Chris brought Keister on towards the end to strengthen the defence, but I was surprised to see Gradley go off instead of Hilaire who looked to be carrying a knock.

 

Hilaire 7. Good midfield work and definitely worth his place.

 

Yiga 8. Fantastic support for the front two, making it a front three much of the time.

 

Brayley 9. Man of the match by a mile. If the NLP says any different tomorrow it will be because they have to suck up to the ‘name’ clubs like AFC.

 

Hockton 8. Best I have seen him so far. Could have had more goals, especially when through on the keeper who made a good save.

 

Unnecessary bookings: Hilaire (blocking a free kick), Hockton (celebrating in front of the home fans), Behcet (timewasting).

 

Keister on for Gradley, made a terrible clearance, luckily not punished.

 

A nice stadium, but the pitch was poor as you often see at shared grounds.

 

Superb programme, including a good interview with Bill Edwards (highest rated forward Leroy Griffiths. Come off it Bill, you wouldn’t want to be facing Brayley!).

 

Excellent singing throughout by the Gate fans, penned up in their little enclosure with the sun in their eyes, poor things. Well appreciated by the players too.

 

A bit of niggle by the buses after the game. Perhaps someone else will tell us what that was about.

 

All in all a real ‘feel good’ day.

[Wellsie]

From the main stand, the support today from tyhe MFC fans was superb!! They never stopped singing throughout the whole game. Credit boys and gals, fantastic effort. Bring on the Braintree!

[jkmaskell]

Radio Kent said Bechet was their motm...

[hangthedj]

Bechet played fantasticly well in goal today kept us in the game on many occasions.

[MargateFan]

I would be prepared to go along with that for two main reasons. The first was a world class save in the first half, how he reached the ball to push it out from the far reaches of the bottom corner of the net was beyond me, such agility and quick thinking. The second was his joy at the second goal, and he turned and celebrated with the fans - the Margate magic has got him too!

But all in all, what a tremendous day out. A beautiful day, did not even need my gloves, fantastic atmosphere more like the conference days than anything since. Two class goals from Danny, and a towering performance from all the team. And the feeling of togetherness amongst the fans was particularly special, and it was a privilege to stand with those (mainly) young lads and sing my heart out with them, and they kept us going right through.

What a great day. And looking at our performance, not the last one we will see either.

[Dutch_Mike]

Fantastic day - fully deserved win IMO. Hockton was, again, superb, and got the two goals that he deserved. The strike partnership really blossomed today. Behcet was superb in goal, pulling off a number of good saves, and being very streetwise with his time-wasting. Referee was awful, it seemed to me that their goal was a handball (any thoughts?). All in all, a very good team performance. Support was very good again today (in number and noise). Go fishing in Wimbledon, get a bite every time - they really did not like the 'MK Dons' chant! A day I will certainly not forget - well done everyone connected to the club!

[Chris1]

Quote:

jkmaskell said:
Radio Kent said Bechet was their motm...

He certainly made some good saves, and kept us alive in the first ten minutes, but twice in the first half he let the ball bounce off his chest when trying to gather, the second time making a great stop from the resulting shot.

Also in each half he miskicked straight to a forward. On the first occasion the bloke was so surprised he just headed it back, and on the second Bill got sent off saving a certain goal.

For those errors I can't make him my MOM. However what MargateFan says about his attitude is quite correct, and nice to see.

[jkmaskell]

Today was the first time in quite a while Ive turned on Radio Kent and despite all the static(its hard to get a signal when inside a building and using an analogue antennae which doesnt go very far) but Margate got a fair number of mentions. It was fighting the Gillingham game for coverage but Margate was one of the more mentioned games today.

[P.W.]

[color:"blue"]At last Chris has hit upon a winning combination, virtually the same team for the Harrow / East Thurrock /Folkestone & Wimbledon games (just the injury to Hasim Deen making a difference). We have now gelled into a team! The defence has quality leadership in Robin Trott and the combination of Bertie, Pat, Lawrence & Ian alternating between midfield and attack we look dangerous going forward.

The result is WOW !!

[I am Spartacus]

You will be pleased to know Michael your DRUM was mentioned on radio womble saying that our supporters were going quite Continental.

 

 

Keep the beat going.

 

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[BlueGate Alan]

Thanks for the postive reports from those of you witnessing the great win today, much appreciated. June & Graham I can just see you standing with the lads singing away, well done!

[MargateFan]

Wish you could have been there, Alan, but we gave an extra whoop for you.

[BlueGate Alan]

Me too June, but busy decorating our lounge! Though I did keep sneaking up to check on score, even listened in for last 15 mins. Thanks for the whoop! Roll on Braintree

[Dutch_Mike]

I'm so proud *wipes tear* <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[I am Spartacus]

Another positive from todays game is that we have moved up one place in the league. Who was it who said we are going to win every game and make the playoffs.

 

I am just chuffed that I was not there today to have enjoyed the atmosphere and feeling of good will. Can not wait for next Saturday now.

[MargateFan]

I hope you are painting it blue and white (although I suppose amber and black would be OK).

[BlueGate Alan]

lol June, did my sons room Blue and White beginning of season!!! And before U ask Cookie, no I didnt use the paint from Margate ground lol

[margate_hatter]

gud game i cant talk

but was amazing lookin foward 2 saturday up the gate!!

[margateshot]

I don't think AFC know what hit them today. The after match comments from their manager said we were never really in it and only had three shots on goal, two of which we scored. Sorry but we ran them ragged on occasions and played some good football. There was not really anything about us in the programme from their manager, only his views on the previous games. What really gets me is that in the front of the programme it has a list of honours. These include Southern League championships Div 4 Champions and the FA Cup winners in 1988. What a joke, Wimbledon FC are still going, if not in name. Their history is that they have won two Championships in the lower reaches of the Ryman league!!!

[ray]

Well done on your win today - two very well-executed goals. Brayley and Hockton looked very impressive up front (shame we can't afford either of them !) but we certainly missed not having Shane Smeltz this afternoon and then losing Richard Butler. Looking forward to the return game next month.

Congratulations again.