What a dramatic end to this Kent derby as Margate took the honours in the first minute of added on time to keep their impressive record going under new boss Nikki Bull.

The game saw Margate get off to a great start when after 6 minutes a corner into the area was headed goal wards by Brett Johnson but Dean Rance headed off the line, but three minutes later they took the lead when Freddie Lapado racing down the left wing beat Matt Fish & his low cross found ex Fleet man Kane Wills who side footed in from 8 yards.

This stunned Ebbsfleet & although they had the lion’s share of possession they did not cause any problems for the Margate defence superbly marshalled by Johnson, Jake Goodman & Charlie Wassmer, in fact Ebbsfleet first chance came in the 22^nd minute when Jordan Parkes on the edge of the area slipped the ball through for Rance whose cross shot from the by-line was blocked by Chris Lewington for a corner.

Three minutes later Margate could have increased their lead when Lapado received the ball from Wills in the area & he twisted & turned before shooting into the sidenetting from 10 yards.

Half time arrived & both managers had things to ponder, Bull would his team keep their intensity up whilst Daryl McMahon might have to change tactics & bring on fresh legs.

The second half started with Ebbsfleet on the front foot as McMahon did change his tactics as Danny Haynes switched wings & Aaron McClean came on for his debut, Margate for their sins again seemed to be still in the changing rooms as after 52 seconds they were level as Haynes got to the by-line & his cross went to the back post where Rance was & his cross shot across the six yard box found Danny Kedwell who stabbed home.

In the 54^th minute a long ball down the right flank saw Haynes get to it & then look up where he saw Kedwell in the area & he passed to him & his first time shot from8 yards was saved by Lewington.

In a rare attack in the 66^th minute Margate’s Johnson tried his luck from 20 yards but Brandon Hall saved it, in the 73^rd minute Matt Godden latched onto a long pass out on the left wing & he twisted & turned & his goal bound shot from 20 yards was deflected for a corner.

Another near chance came in the 77^th minute when Fish got to the by-line & his near post cross caused panic as Johnson diverted it away instead of letting Lewington claim it forcing Lewis Taylor to knock it out for a corner. Two minutes later a ball into the area was half cleared to Godden whose snap shot went just past the post.

With time running out for both teams a draw seemed the likely result especially as in the 84^th minute Lapado got onto a long ball beat two defenders & ran into the area before blazing his shot high & wide.

The board went up indicating a minimum of three minutes were left & both sides were trying to win but were not clinical enough to do this until the first minute when a flowing move from right to left saw Luke Moore on the edge of the area pass the ball out to Lewis Taylor who from 15 yards smashed the ball into the top left hand corner giving Hall no chance & this led to wild celebrations as Bull & his subs ran onto the pitch to celebrate, afterwards whilst being interviewed Bull apologised for his behaviour & said it was wrong & he would learn from this.

The final whistle went & both managers had contrasting views to the game with Bull saying his team had a plan & they played it out including letting slip that Christian Jolley was dropped to the bench for being late for the 1:30 meeting whilst McMahon said his team had played well but needed to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal but wasn’t downhearted as they are still six points ahead in the table.

 

EBBSFLEET UNITED:

1. HALL 2. M.FISH  3. B.Van Den BOGAERT  4. JP.KISSOCK  5. A.ACHEAMPONG  6. T.BONNER  7. D.RANCE 8. J.PARKES (45) 9. D.KEDWELL  10. M.GODDEN  11. D.HAYNES

SUBS USED:   16. A.McCLEAN (45)

SUBS NOT USED:   12. S.LEWIS  13. J.MILES  14. C.SHERINGHAM  15. A.COOK

BOOKINGS: 6. T.BONNOR (19)

 

MARGATE:

1. LEWINGTON 2. G.WILSON  3. N.GREEN  4. C.WASSMER (60)  5. J.GOODMAN  6. B.JOHNSON  7. K.WILLS (74) 8. L.TAYLOR 9. F.LAPADO  10. D.GREEN (82)   11. L.MOORE

SUBS USED:  14. S.RENTS (60)  15. C.JOLLEY (74)  16. D.HUNT (82)

BOOKINGS:  3. N.GREEN (65)  15. C.JOLLEY (86)

 

REFEREE: Mr C.BROOK

ASSISTANTS: Mr S.BROWN & Mr M.GOLDSMITH

ATTENDANCE: 1463