It took a single moment of magic from Freddie Ladapo to turn this into a joyous Boxing Day treat for the blue and white wearing supporters in Margate’s best crowd of the season.
This match though, might not have had such a fairytale ending for Margate’s newly installed manager had the visiting Stones latched on to the guilt edged chances they had in the first half and had not Chris Lewington been at his best between the home sticks.
In the opening 60 seconds, the visitors had their best opening of the game, a free header for Dan Sweeney from the first corner of the game but he directed it over the home crossbar. In fact, Maidstone forced five corners within the first 12 minutes but failed to make the pressure tell. Both sides toiled to come to terms with a swirling wide. Far too often Stones over-hit the ball, wind assisted, whilst Gate failed to make allowances for the ball being held up in the blustery conditions. In truth, the ball spent too much time in the air when short ground passing might have served better.
As the half wore on, Margate came into the game more. Worgan in the visitors’ goal got down well to block Christian Jolley as he surged forward down the right channel, then he denied Ladapo who had skilfully skipped past two Stones’ defenders. Before the first 45 ended, Lewington at the other end, produced a save of some excellence to deny Jay May, palming the Stones’ striker’s header onto the bar.
After the break, Maidstone seemed to lose their way, giving Margate more time on the ball, and that was to be their undoing. On the hour mark, Freddie Ladapo seized on the ball on the edge of the box, twisted, turned, twisted again and larruped the ball past Lee Worgan. A moment of magic and the big striker’s second goal in successive games.
Second half substitute Alex Akrofi might have levelled things for Maidstone with 15 minutes to go but Lewington was equal to his effort. On the stroke of the normal ninety, Maidstone ‘keeper, Lee Worgan, rushed out of his area and upended Jamie Taylor as he went round him. The crowd screamed for a red to be flourished but referee, Ian Cooper, produced merely a yellow, perhaps adjudging that the two defenders coming round behind might possibly have prevented a further score.
Margate manager Nikki Bull can delight in a second successive win, a second successive clean sheet and another three points to inch his side away from the relegation trap door. Commenting on social media, Bull said, “Players gave their all today and showed a real desire to get the three points”.
Maidstone’s Jay Saunders, meanwhile, is left to contemplate a third successive league defeat, an ever widening gap between his Stones and the top of the table and what needs to be accomplished to arrest the apparent decline and maintain interest in the play-off berths.
Margate: Chris Lewington, Glenn Wilson, Nathan Green, Matthew Johnson, Jake Goodman, Charlie Wassmer, Kane Wills, Christian Jolley (Lewis Taylor 58), Freddie Ladapo, Luke Moore (Jamie Taylor 71), Sean Shields.
Subs not used: Jamie Stewart, Danny Green, Brett Johnson.
Sent off: none Cautions: Nathan Green.
Maidstone United: Lee Worgan, Callum Driver, Tom Mills, Jamie Coyle, Manny Parry, James Rogers, Bobby-Joe Taylor (Charles Banya 70), Joe Healy, Jay May, Dan Sweeney (Matt Bodkin 74), Vas Karagiannis (Alex Akrofi 70).
Subs not used: Callum Davies, Jack Paxman.
Sent off: none Cautions: Lee Worgan.
Referee: Ian Cooper Assistants: Chris Myatt & Ryan Whitaker
Man of the Match: Freddie Ladapo (Margate)
Margate (0) 1
Freddie Ladapo 61
Maidstone United (0) 0
Vanarama National League (South)
Saturday 26th December 2015
at Hartsdown Park
Attendance: 1,248
(photo credit: Peter Guise – Bumper Boxing Day Crowd)