Reserves lost unfortunately

[michael]

I think Mark Weatherleys Margate Reserves lost 3-1 at home to maidstone .

[blueblood]

Yes they did. A very young gate side were beaten but not disgraced by the a bigger, older, more experienced side. Though they only had one striker the gate side had enough chances to win it and were only kept out by some good keeping.

Taffy Alan was present and wrote a report , which i am certain he will post this morning.

I was very, very impressed by our young keeper. Watch out Scott there's a local boy coming up to push you.

[michael]

Tougher league this year-one division up;and as we can't get promoted anyway, a mid table finish would be very creditable i would think.

 

Are'nt Maidstone one of the better and more established reserve sides anyway,so as you say BB -maybe a just about acceptable start for a 'new team'.

 

Unfortunately, i think we also have Maidstone in the cups.

 

I guess we will miss the insider input from 'reserve players' posts this season ?

[differentgame]

It was always going to be a hard game, Maids seem to have their youth/reserve priorities right and postings on their site. Our keeper, another Matt, was outstanding. It was Maids 5 and 6 who did it for them and although these two tired in the second half which gave Margate some chances they hung on. Maids overlapping on the right cut through our defence many times but Margate seemed to find something to stop the cross, Heathy perhaps. Shame about their 3rd goal as it came right after Margate had a real chance to get the equalizer. Maidstone and our first goals were from pens (no cards shown and from where I stood both were very soft). The one thing that concerns is that although our lads ran their boots off and worked none stop, no goals. 1-3 only reflects the score, I think Margate will improve.

£2 well spent and a couple of pints in the "Hartsdown", tables outside (car park side) were needed in the sun.

[BlueGate Alan]

On a hot sunny afternoon at Hartsdown, a young Margate side came up against a more experienced, stronger looking Maidstone. However, to their credit, especially in the 2nd half, they stuck to their game and very nearly came away with the share of the points, only losing 1-3 the last of which was scored in the last minute.

 

As early as the 3rd minute Dan Stokes pushed the ball down the right wing to Paul Axon who got in a good cross which the big Maidstone centre half Chris Smalling managed to clear. Then in a counter attack Maidstone put the Margate defence under pressure and Alan Heath nearly put his back header in the net but was saved by an outstanding save by young Matt Lamprell who tipped it around his left post. This started a succession of 3 consecutive corners for the Stones but all were dealt with by the Margate defence.

 

Then a cross from Dan Allen in the 10th minute was headed out for a corner which then started 4 consecutive corners for the Blues. Neil Hoggart took these swinging them all in towards the goal but nobody could take advantage and all were eventually cleared. In the 22nd minute a frre kick on the right was taken by Steve Elliott and the impressive Jason Batt rose above everyone and headed the ball down into the left hand corner to put the Stones 1 up.

 

There then followed an impressive passing display by them, especially down the right flank, usually with James Peacock at the centre of it and it was no surprise when a shot from Robin Clark looked goalbound until Lamprell flung himself across the goal to save with Stokes helping to clear the loose ball. Then a through ball to Tyrone Smith was again excellently saved by Lamprell who tipped it over the bar. In the 32nd minute there was a long delay when Rob Lyall was injured for the Stones, but at least this gave the players the chance to take on much needed liquid.

 

Margate then in the 34th minute had a free kick taken by Hoggart which, once again, was whipped in dangerously but was pushed out for a corner. Six minutes later Smith was through on goal with Lamprell but both collided going for the ball which the ref, very harshlly, awarded a penalty against Lampreel who got hurt in the collision. Smith took the penalty and Lamprell nearly saved it but only managed to help it into the net to put the Stones 2 up. A couple of minutes later Kenny Pratt went on a run and his pass found Nick Moir who fired over the top. Back came Maidstone and Heath trying to find his goalie in the area only managed to find Batt whose overhead kick went just wide of post

 

In the second half, whether due to a stern talk from Mark Weatherley, the Blues came out of the blocks, and when Moir turned the defender in the area he was pulled down and the ref had no hesitation in awarding another penalty. Moir picked himself up and tucked the ball into the left hand corner to give the Blues a glimmer of hope. However Maidstone had other ideas and a shot from Clark was, once again, tipped around the post by Lamprell, then from a corner a shot by Batt was saved using his feet by Lamprell.

 

These two missed chances seemed to galvanise Margate again and from another good free kick from Hoggard in the 61st minute, the ball fell to Pratt who could not quite keep it under control and the chance went. A minute later from another Hoggard free kick, Pratt headed the ball towards Axon running in on goal but he was adjuged to have climbed unfairly. Margate then enjoyed 10 minutes of sustained pressure but could not break through the Stones defence marshalled well by the impressive Smalling. However in the 70th minute a quik free kick by Olti Keci found Chris Lewis but his shot was saved by Adam Harris using his feet.

 

Maidstone then had a chance to increase their lead but Lamprell again denied them this time saving from the sub Gary McAuliffe. Stokes then went on a run and his ball found Axon on right whose cross evaded the keeper but unfortunately also Lewis who was near the far post. A minute later in the 75th minute another run from Stokes again found Axon and from his cross Lewis forced a corner. From this the ball fell to Moir but his shot went over the bar. In the 82nd minute there was some nice play down the left by Axon and our sub Shannon (sorry no last name) where they forced another corner. A few minutes later Heath put Axon through who cut to the bye line but his cross was once again cut out by the defence.

 

Then a cross from Allen in the 89th minute fell to Shannon just a few yards out but somehow he managed to miss the empty goal hitting it over the top. This near miss galvanised Maidstone into a last attack and a through ball fell to Smith who put paid to the Blues hopes by slotting home the Stones 3rd goal.

 

Margate: Matt Lamprell, Dan Stokes, Dan Allen, Ryan Harker, Alan Heath, Olti Keci, Paul Axon, Neil Hoggart (Shane Brown), Nick Moir, Kenny Pratt (Chris Lewis), Darryn Vanhindsberg ( Shannon)

 

Maidstone: Adam Harris, Rob Lyall (Tom Armstrong), Andy Foster, Marc Morrison, Chris Smalling, James Peacock, Steve Elliott (Rifon Anond), Robin Clark, Tyrone Smith, Jason Batt (Gary McAuliffe), Shannon O'Donovan.

 

Attendance 57

[michael]

Hi TA.

 

That report is outstanding.

Many thanks.

Its impressive enough knowing the 'Gate players but you seem to know the Miadstone team aswell.

 

Have you been dining with John Motson or similar recently and doing pre-game homework.

 

You even counted the crowd !!

 

I still reckon we could get over 100 every game if club put in a bit of effort to market these games,and even over 200 against the likes of Ramsgate.

[Blue Boy Kev]

Matt Lamprell the keeper posts on here so there is still reserve input.

[mfcr]

it was a very stern telling off from mark and we was all much more fired up for the 2nd half and all of us know it was a very disapointing performance. you could tell the players werent happy with their expression in the changing room. i think everyone is looking forward to wednesdays game 2 prove themselves after that performance!

[Wonka]

A little bit of info on players and squad photos update on the main website would look much better on the main site

[I am Spartacus]

Originally Posted By: mfcr

I think everyone is looking forward to wednesdays game 2 prove themselves after that performance!

I believe that this is a friendly against 180. Do not know where it is or if it is behind closed doors.

[BlueGate Alan]

No Michael, I just asked for the Maidstone team before the game which then helped in my report. Steve Bull has asked if I can get any info on the players for the programme which I will try and do at next Reserve game, got to be nice for the young lads to be recognised

[michael]

Agree with that wholeheartedly

[Cookie]

I heard mention today of a reserve player coming in either now or shortly, named ROBERTO CURBISHLY.(No relation,I asked).About 21 yrs old & a central midfield or defender so I was told. Supposed to be a hotshot apparently. Ex Maidstone was mentioned(I think he said Maidstone).Anyone know anymore about him? This chap seemed to think he is pretty good. Or with a name like that was I being wound up?

[blueblood]

Well done Alan. Good and fair report.