Despite a hard fought game from both sides it was Maidstone United who prevailed against Margate, maintaining their seven point lead at the top of the Ryman Premier League.

Early in the season, with both teams working hard to get results it was the game between the two sides at the Gallagher Stadium which may thought would decide the champions of the league, despite this, Maidstone came into the game ten points above their Kent rivals and seven points above second placed Hendon.

Margate came into the game having won just one of their last seven games- that win coming against AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday.

Maidstone manager Jay Saunders made two changes from the Stones team who drew at Leatherhead Alex Brown took the place of Matt Bodkin and George Porter was replaced by Billy Bricknell whereas Terry Brown kept the same team who beat Hornchurch 5-1 at Hartsdown Park.

Within two minutes of the opening kick-off it was the hosts who could have taken an early lead when Bricknell was on the end of a pass from Jack Parkinson but, after the striker slid a shot past Nikki Bull the assistant referee had his flag up for offside.

Soon Margate were able to work their way into the game but their first chance fell to Luke Moore with his back to goal. Moore was able to improvise and get a shot away, but his acrobatic effort looped over.

It took another fifteen minutes for another opportunity for either team to get a shot away and, yet again, it fell to Luke Moore after Freddie Ladapo found some space to put a low cross towards the near post which Moore placed just wide. The Gate’s pressure continued when Zac Attwood was given space to turn but his shot rolled inches wide of Lee Worgan’s right post.

It was Attwood who scored the opening goal, giving Margate the lead when he collected a pass from Ryan James before weaving his way past two defenders and sliding a shot underneath Lee Worgan to put his side ahead against his previous club, giving the travelling fans renewed hope of a title challenge coming from Thanet.

Their hopes quickly vanished though when within the final minute of the first half when, after Maidstone’s Frannie Collin ran out of space in the penalty area he played the ball back to Alex Brown who played the ball onto his stronger right foot before unleashing a powerful shot past Nikki Bull, making the game level as half time approached.

Maidstone continued their momentum into the second half and they quickly had another goal- scoring opportunity when Bull wasn’t able to catch a long ball from Alex Brown, allowing Billy Bricknell to get onto the loose ball and see his effort from a narrow angle go behind for a goal kick.

The striker quickly made up for his mistake however. Tom Mill’s cross from the right fell to Jay May who cushioned the ball down to Bricknell who was able to get his effort underneath Nikki Bull to complete Maidstone’s turnaround with his third goal for the club.

Margate quickly looked for an equaliser, but Lewis Taylor’s shot from 25 yards just moments after went over Lee Worgan’s goal.

Margate continued to push forward, but with the hosts keeping so many of their players into defensive positions, it was difficult for Margate to find a way through. With time running out the Gate had one final chance to create a breakthrough but after Ryan James acrobatically kept the ball in play shots from Ladapo and Taylor were blocked, allowing Maidstone to soak up pressure until Margate’s time ran out as they returned to Thanet without any points.

After Hendon won against Bury, Margate are now thirteen points behind Maidstone at the top of the Ryman Premier League, but with two games in hand they are still mathematically able to overtake their Kent rivals in the race for the Conference South.

Maidstone will travel to in- form Grays Athletic next as they look to keep hold of top position in the league whilst Margate will look to rediscover the form which took them to the playoff places at Met Police on Tuesday.

 

Maidstone United: Worgan, Stone, Mills, Watt (Coyle), Huke, Rogers, Brown (Porter), Parkinson, May, Collin, Bricknell (Bodkin)

Subs not used: Paxman, Godman

Margate FC: Bull, Eyong, Rents, Phipp (Johnson), Wassmer, Gering, Taylor, Wills, Attwood, Ladapo (Moss), Moore (James)

Subs not used: Riviere, Bennett

Referee: Mr T Ramsey

Assistants: Mr P Wilson and Mr M Jarvis

Attendance: 2,226